Landmark triumph for Cunningham

Nicholas Cunningham (Bedford & County Golf Club) surged to a two-shot success in the Wyke Green Pro-Am after reviving his putting with a trusted Phil Mickelson drill.

Current Open champion Mickelson is famous for holing 100 consecutive three-footers from around the cup.

Cunningham, 20, decided to turn to a similar practice regime in the lead-up to his latest tournament – and the move paid off with a first PGA in England (East) pro-am triumph.

The first-year PGA assistant, who only turned pro towards the end of 2013, made a flying start and was two-under after three holes.

Having given those shots back by the seventh, Cunningham dug in well with birdies at the eighth, 10th and 12th.

He made bogey at the 14th, but reeled off four straight pars to finish with a one-under 68 – two clear of joint runners-up Stuart Brown (Orton Meadows) and Christopher Reed (Shanklin & Sandown).

Cunningham said: “I lost my putting a little bit but then I put some work in for four or five days before Wyke Green and it has come back.

“I just used a putting line and did the old Mickelson 100 three-footers in a row – a favourite drill! I did it on the morning before I played too.”

Cunningham has worked at Bedford and County Golf Club since January 2012 and has shown plenty of ability. Indeed, only last month he finished in a tie for second at the regional qualifier for next month’s Powerade PGA Assistants’ Championship.

As for the rest of the season, he has big ambitions. He will play in a regional qualifier for the Open Championship – the first time he has entered golf’s oldest major – and is eager to make it through to Antalya for the PGA Play-Offs (November 29-Dec 1).

“Getting to the Play-Offs, that is all I am looking at,” Cunningham said.  

Christopher Davis (Enfield) headed the victorious team in the pro-am competition.