The 19-year-old reflected on Sunday’s remarkable comeback victory at Shipley Golf Club when speaking to the T&A.
The Ilkley Golf Club ace said: “It’s good, I’m happy to have retained my title, especially with the way I did it, shooting low on the back nine.
“Like I said last year, it’s always nice the Bradford Open, because it’s the tournament where you get to see the guys you play against all the time.”
Reflecting on that back nine, where he shot just 29, Cunningham said: “I was playing well all day, hitting the ball nicely.
“The putts just weren’t dropping but I told myself to stay patient.
“It was just a case of playing the same golf, keep hitting my fairways and greens.
“Then all of a sudden, on the back nine, pretty much every putt went in, so I just got rewarded in the end for trying to grind it out.”
Silsden native Cunningham hit the front late on, poor Oliver Young ahead for the majority of the tournament, only to fall one stroke short of victory.
But the teen has been there himself, leading at the halfway stage of the 2024 Bradford Open before fading away.
Cunningham said: “It’s one of those things.
“When you’re leading, all the pressure is on you, because you’re expected to go on and win the tournament.
“Ollie had a four-shot lead with nine holes to go, but if you’re the one chasing like I was, you’ve got no pressure on you.
“You just keep playing how you have been and if you make birdies, great, but if you don’t, you don’t.
“But as the frontman, as soon as you start dropping shots, the pressure builds.
“There were back-to-back holes with two shot swings on 14 and 15 that helped in my favour.
“But Ollie played great and it was nice to just play with him and battle against him.”
Shipley captain Jamie Cunningham (left) and vice-skipper Steve Hodgson pose proudly with Huey Cunningham after his win on their course. (Image: UGC)
Retaining his title at Shipley on Sunday made up for his failed attempt to qualify for The Open at Royal Birkdale next week.
Cunningham said: “I tried at Fulford, but it didn’t go as planned.
“I’ve missed out this year, but I’ll definitely try again in 2027, where I think qualifying will be at Alwoodley.
“Either way, I don’t think I’ll be going back to Fulford, I’ll try somewhere different.”
And very soon, the 19-year-old will be expanding his horizons, as one of three Ilkley Golf Club talents to be offered a scholarship in America.
Cunningham will be going to Eckerd College in Florida next month, and he told us: “I can’t wait.
“That’s a four-year thing, so you go August to December, come home from Christmas, then back out from January to May.
“That’s when our summer starts with the Bradford Union, so I’ll be back here to play in our golf competitions.
“The weather and facilities over in Florida will be amazing, so I’m looking forward to going there definitely.”