Former prisoner and motorcycle gang member Ryan Peake has won the New Zealand Open. The 31-year old Australian has qualified for this year’s Open championship, scheduled for July 17-20 at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland. However, due to his criminal record, Peake will need clearance from UK authorities to enable him to travel and compete in the tournament.
Ryan Peake used to be a member of an outlawed motorcycle gang, the Rebels, and received a five-year sentence after being found guilty of serious assault. After securing victory at the New Zealand Open, Peake, a left-hander, stated that golf had helped him turn over a new leaf.
“Yeah, I’m pretty lost for words at the moment, this win is life-changing,” he told reporters. “It’s one hell of a story, one hell of a moment.”
The Australian was a promising golfer in his youth and was widely regarded as one of the biggest up-and-coming talents after teaming up with future British Open Championship winner Cameron Smith to win the boy’s division of the Trans-Tasman cup as a baby-faced 17-year-old in 2010.
Serving time in prison threatened to derail his career. Although he’s back doing what he loves, he was close to missing the tournament after immigration officials delayed his entry into New Zealand.
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From Convict To New Zealand Open Champion
Peake fell out with golf in his early twenties and joined the Rebels, a notorious motorcycle gang. He was sentenced to five-years in jail for assault in 2014. Peake’s real transformation began when golf coach Ritchie Smith reached out to him and encouraged him to return to golf after he regained his freedom. The Australian took the advice and began to rebuild his fitness and form after his release. He earned a full card for the first time on the Australasian Tour in 2024–25 season.
Ahead of Sunday’s final round in Queenstown, Peake had never previously played in the final group at a professional tournament. However, he showed resilience, chasing down Guntaek Koh with four birdies on the opening 12 holes to draw level. Peake then birdied the par-5 17th after Koh made three straight bogeys, taking a one-shot lead heading to the par-3 18th.
The 31-year old was filled with emotions as he celebrated with his friends and family after recording the one-shot victory. The win came with a prize of NZ$201,600 (approx. £99,500/AUS$185,000) and a place in the Open championship at Royal Portrush.
Peake attributed the win to self-belief. “I always knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time when I was going to do it,” he stated. “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 chasing down a win. I’ve never been in a final group, and now I’m a member of the Asian Tour and secured my place in the Open Championship.”
