WA’s Ryan Peake has completed a remarkable story of redemption with a pulsating win at the 104th New Zealand Open – and has earned his playing rights on the DP World Tour.
Trailing Korean Guntaek Koh by four strokes at the start of the final round at Millbrook Resort, Peake made a nerveless 10-foot putt for par on the 72nd hole to avoid a playoff with fellow Australian Jack Thompson (63), Japan’s Kazuki Higa (66) and South African Ian Snyman (66).
The 31-year-old went bogey-free for his final 55 holes and shot 5-under 66 on Sunday to finish atop the leaderboard at 23-under par, becoming the first lefthander to win the NZ Open since Sir Bob Charles in 1973.
Given his back-story that includes amateur golf alongside Cameron Smith and a five-year stint in jail while a member of the Rebels’ bikie gang, Peake did not have the necessary visa to travel to New Zealand until the start of the week.
He arrived in Queenstown on Tuesday, played 36 holes on Wednesday and leaves with another extraordinary chapter added to his story.
“I’ve just changed my life,” Peake said post-round. “This is what I do. I want to be here and just play golf. The story is what it is, but I’m just out here playing golf.”
It was while he was incarcerated that renowned coach Ritchie Smith reached out and asked whether Peake wanted to play competitive golf again.
He wondered whether he was a charity case, but also knew Smith enough to know he wouldn’t waste time on an assignment he saw no future in.
“I always knew I could do it; it was just a matter of time,” Peake added. “Elvis Smylie was in the same predicament not too long ago and 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.”
Ryan Peake celebrates holing the winning putt
Courtesy of his win, Peake will now contest the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July and is guaranteed to earn one of the three DP World Tour cards on offer to the top non-eligible players in the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season-ending tour Order of Merit.
With one event left to play in the Aus PGA Tour season – the National Tournament in Victoria from March 27-30 – Peake sits in second place in the standings. WA Open champion Elvis Smylie has already wrapped up the top spot.
View the Challenger PGA Tour Order of Merit here.
Photos: Australian Golf Media
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