I was a motorcycle gang member who went to prison and now I’ve qualified for The Open
Ryan Peake is heading to The Open at Portrush just six years after his release from prison. The 31-year-old ex-motorcycle gang member was sentenced to five years in jail for serious assault as he life spun out of control. GettyPeake enjoyed emotional celebrations as he completes a stunning turnaround in his life[/caption] Now, he’s earned a crack at one of golf’s top events thanks to a stunning comeback win at the New Zealand Open which saw him claim victory after being four shots behind overnight. But the Australasian Tour rookie must get clearance to travel to the tournament first due to his prior conviction. “Yeah, I’m pretty lost for words at the moment, [the win is] life-changing,” he said. “It’s one hell of a story, one hell of a moment.” He continued: “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.” Peake, who is from Perth, Western Australia, even came close to missing the New Zealand Open at Millbrook resort as his entry to the country was delayed by immigration officials. But he prevailed in incredible circumstances after arriving on Tuesday, winning £99,500. A promising golfer in his youth, Peake won junior tournaments in Australian and even partnered Cam Smith to win the Trans-Tasman series. Peake let out a roar with his winning puttGetty However, turning pro at 19 years old didn’t work out and by 21 he was a full member of a biker going called ‘The Rebels’. In 2014 a dramatic event while with the gang saw him jailed for assaulting a man they thought had threatened to shoot them. “I was standing on the driveway when the garage door started going up,’ said Peake. “This guy runs out and he’s lifted his shirt and I’ve seen this brown thing. I didn’t know what it was but I dropped him.” Prison life was hard but during his stint, golf coach Ritchie Smith, who stated he was ‘Cameron Smith-level good’ got in touch after hearing about the turn of events in Peake’s life. “I rang Ritchie and he said to me that he’d heard what had happened and asked me what I was going to do. I said I was thinking about an electrical apprenticeship. GettyPeake dramatic return will be inspiration to many attempting to rehabilitate[/caption] “He went quiet. Then he said, “What about golf?”. “I had two years left on my sentence and I decided I was going to do it. When I watched tournaments on TV I started feeling a real competitive streak. “I knew I had to quit [the Rebels bike club]. I was being housed with other guys in the club and I ran the idea past them. “As soon as I told them they said I should go for it. That’s why I will never turn my back on these guys. They genuinely wanted what was best for me.” Incredibly, on his third day release he won the Lakelands club competition and joked: “I hope you enjoy your night but I’m back off to jail”. And now, as an Australasian Tour rookie, he’s stamped his ticket to Portrush. The Open will take place at Portrush in Northern Ireland from July 17-20 this year. Last time out the event was won by Xander Schauffele who hit a final-round 65 to beat out Justin Rose and Billy Horschel by two strokes. The American claimed the $3,100,000 jackpot for winning, something Peake will no doubt have half an eye on.
Ryan Peake is heading to The Open at Portrush just six years after his release from prison.
The 31-year-old ex-motorcycle gang member was sentenced to five years in jail for serious assault as he life spun out of control.
Now, he’s earned a crack at one of golf’s top events thanks to a stunning comeback win at the New Zealand Open which saw him claim victory after being four shots behind overnight.
But the Australasian Tour rookie must get clearance to travel to the tournament first due to his prior conviction.
“Yeah, I’m pretty lost for words at the moment, [the win is] life-changing,” he said.
“It’s one hell of a story, one hell of a moment.”
He continued: “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.”
Peake, who is from Perth, Western Australia, even came close to missing the New Zealand Open at Millbrook resort as his entry to the country was delayed by immigration officials.
But he prevailed in incredible circumstances after arriving on Tuesday, winning £99,500.
A promising golfer in his youth, Peake won junior tournaments in Australian and even partnered Cam Smith to win the Trans-Tasman series.
However, turning pro at 19 years old didn’t work out and by 21 he was a full member of a biker going called ‘The Rebels’.
In 2014 a dramatic event while with the gang saw him jailed for assaulting a man they thought had threatened to shoot them.
“I was standing on the driveway when the garage door started going up,’ said Peake.
“This guy runs out and he’s lifted his shirt and I’ve seen this brown thing. I didn’t know what it was but I dropped him.”
Prison life was hard but during his stint, golf coach Ritchie Smith, who stated he was ‘Cameron Smith-level good’ got in touch after hearing about the turn of events in Peake’s life.
“I rang Ritchie and he said to me that he’d heard what had happened and asked me what I was going to do. I said I was thinking about an electrical apprenticeship.
“He went quiet. Then he said, “What about golf?”.
“I had two years left on my sentence and I decided I was going to do it. When I watched tournaments on TV I started feeling a real competitive streak.
“I knew I had to quit [the Rebels bike club]. I was being housed with other guys in the club and I ran the idea past them.
“As soon as I told them they said I should go for it. That’s why I will never turn my back on these guys. They genuinely wanted what was best for me.”
Incredibly, on his third day release he won the Lakelands club competition and joked: “I hope you enjoy your night but I’m back off to jail”.
And now, as an Australasian Tour rookie, he’s stamped his ticket to Portrush.
The Open will take place at Portrush in Northern Ireland from July 17-20 this year.
Last time out the event was won by Xander Schauffele who hit a final-round 65 to beat out Justin Rose and Billy Horschel by two strokes.
The American claimed the $3,100,000 jackpot for winning, something Peake will no doubt have half an eye on.
