Panton swings like Uncle John

NEIL PANTON, nephew of former Ryder Cup player John Panton, is thriving in the Daily Mail Foursomes with Dunblane New team-mate Ian Kenny. Panton and Kenny beat Stuart McLachlan and Phil Reid 6&5 at Bridge of Allan to set up a home tie with Comrie in round three. ‘Bridge of Allan is not an easy place to go,’ said Panton. ‘It’s a difficult wee nine-hole course. We had a bit of luck and holed a number of good putts.’ Panton’s Uncle John was one of Scotland’s finest ever golfers. He played the Ryder Cup in 1951, 1953 and 1961, won the 1956 British Match Play Championship and beat American Sam Snead to clinch the World Seniors title in 1967. John died in 2009 aged 92. Neil, who plays off four, said: ‘I have the same old-fashioned swing. I didn’t get taught much by Uncle John. It was an old professional up at Pitlochry called Jimmy Wilson who taught me. Uncle John and Jimmy were the best of pals.’ Catherine Panton-Lewis, Neil’s cousin, is a founding member of the Ladies European Tour and won 14 events. Perhaps Neil can add another title to the family collection at the October grand finals, which will be held at the Marriott St Pierre in Chepstow.