Former gang member Ryan Peake has banked himself a spot at this summer’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush, after winning the New Zealand Open on Sunday.
Peake carded a bogey-free five-under-par 67 in the final round in New Zealand, to ensure he pipped Japan’s Kazuki Higa by one shot. As well as the piece of silverware and just short of £100,000 in prize money, Peake also earned a place at The Open for the first time.
“Yeah, I’m pretty lost for words at the moment, [the win is] life-changing,” the 31-year-old Aussie golfer said following his victory. “It’s one hell of a story, one hell of a moment.”
At the age of 21, Peake was a member of an outlawed motorcycle gang named the rebels. Back in 2014 he was convicted of serious assault and then sentenced to five years behind bars, hampering his hopes of becoming an established professional golfer.
During his time in prison, Peake was contacted by coach Ritchie Smith to take up the game again when he is released, and the 31-year-old did exactly that. He made his way onto the PGA Tour of Australasia, and in his maiden season has collected one of the circuit’s most historic titles.
Looking back on his journey, he said on Sunday: “I always knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time when I was going to do it. This is what I do now. I want to be here and just play golf. The story is what it is, but I’m just out here playing golf.
“From this morning when I woke up four shots behind, to chase down a win. I’ve never been in a final group to now being a member of the Asian Tour.” Heading into the event at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, there were doubts as to whether the eventual champion would even be able to play.
Ryan Peake secured victory in New Zealand (
Getty Images)
His entry into New Zealand was only passed by immigration officials on Monday, just days before the opening round of the event got underway. Due to his criminal past, there could also be some legal limits preventing him from taking advantage of his invite to Royal Portrush too.
Amid his previous conviction, the 31-year-old from Perth will require clearance to travel to Northern Ireland for the final major of the season in July. There is no doubt Peake had been trending in the right direction, having tied-fifth and tied-sixth in two of his last three starts.
It was two missed cuts in his country’s biggest events earlier in the season though that helped, along with the input of fellow player Elvis Smylie. He commented: “Elvis Smylie was in the same predicament not too long ago and our coach, Ritchie Smith, said it was going to switch and that you’ve just got to commit to it.
“He had the same chat with me when I missed the cut at the Aussie Open and the Aussie PGA. “We set out some goals of how we wanted to finish off the rest of the year and along with my family, my team, everyone believed. But most of all I believed as well.”
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