Former Australian bike gang member Ryan Peake accomplished a shocking redemption story on Sunday, successful the New Zealand Open and securing a spot on this 12 months’s British Open. The 31-year-old from Perth, who beforehand served a five-year jail time period for assault, held his nerve to assert a one-shot victory on the Millbrook Resort course close to Queenstown. His triumph earned him a berth on the prestigious main in Portrush, Northern Eire, in July, pending clearance to journey as a convicted legal.
Peake’s emotional celebration on the 18th inexperienced noticed him showered with champagne by mates as he mirrored on a journey few in skilled golf may relate to. Preventing again tears, the closely tattooed left-hander acknowledged the profound impression the game has had on his life.
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“Yeah, I am fairly misplaced for phrases for the time being, life-changing,” Peake mentioned. “It is one hell of a narrative, one hell of a second. Simply perception. I at all times knew I may do it, it was only a matter of time once I was going to do it. That is what I do now. I wish to be right here and simply play golf. The story is what it’s, however I am simply out right here enjoying golf.”
Peake’s path to the event was virtually derailed earlier than it started. Initially delayed by New Zealand immigration officers as a result of his legal document, he solely arrived on Tuesday night time, simply in time for Thursday’s tee-off on the Australasian and Asian Tour co-sanctioned occasion. His previous, which concerned becoming a member of the outlawed Rebels bike gang and making a sequence of poor selections in his early twenties, continues to current hurdles, as he requires particular journey permission to compete exterior Australia.
As soon as on the course, Peake delivered a near-flawless efficiency. After an opening-round 67, he went bogey-free over the ultimate three rounds, carding 64, 64, and 66 to complete on 23-under. His decisive second got here with a birdie on the par-five 17th, breaking a four-way tie at 22-under. A clutch seven-foot putt for par on the ultimate gap sealed the win by a single stroke over compatriot Jack Thompson, South African Ian Snyman, and Japan’s Kazuki Higa.
Peake had began the ultimate spherical in second place, 4 pictures behind South Korea’s Koh Gun-taek, who struggled down the stretch, ending with a 72 and settling for fifth place at 21-under. Together with his victory, Peake not solely claimed a spot on the British Open but in addition pocketed $201,600 in prize cash, marking a outstanding rise for the rookie on the Australasian Tour.
