Ex-criminal Ryan Peake qualifies for British Open with New Zealand Open victory | Golf Information
Former Australian motorbike gang member Ryan Peake accomplished a surprising redemption story on Sunday, profitable the New Zealand Open and securing a spot on this yr’s British Open. The 31-year-old from Perth, who beforehand served a five-year jail time period for assault, held his nerve to say 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 felony.
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 might relate to. Preventing again tears, the closely tattooed left-hander acknowledged the profound affect the game has had on his life.
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“Yeah, I am fairly misplaced for phrases in the intervening time, life-changing,” Peake mentioned. “It is one hell of a narrative, one hell of a second. Simply perception. I at all times knew I might do it, it was only a matter of time after I was going to do it. That is what I do now. I need to be right here and simply play golf. The story is what it’s, however I am simply out right here taking part in golf.”
Peake’s path to the match was nearly derailed earlier than it started. Initially delayed by New Zealand immigration officers because of his felony report, 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 motorbike 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 seventeenth, 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.
