Former motorbike gang member and assault convict qualifies for The Open after victory in New Zealand

Ryan Peake was left lost for words following his epic victory at the New Zealand Open on Sunday afternoon.

After being drenched in champagne by his friends, the 31-year-old golfer wiped his brow and reflected on his incredible journey.

‘Yeah, I’m pretty lost for words at the moment, [the win is] life-changing,’ Peake said.

‘It’s one hell of a story, one hell of a moment.’

In 2014, Peake was sentenced to five years in prison for a serious assault when he was 21 years old.

The left-hander from Perth, who has never shied away from his chequered past, had been a member of an outlawed bikie gang, the Rebels.

Fast forward to today, Peake began his final round at the Millbrook Resort in Queenstown four shots off the lead but would post a card of 66 on Sunday to finish his round 23-under-par and bank himself $324,667 and a ticket to this summer’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

‘I always knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time when I was going to do it,’ Peake said.

‘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’s short game was impressive throughout the weekend, with the Aussie dazzling with his putter on Sunday to clinch the huge victory.

But this week has not been without its difficulties. Due to his criminal record the former Australasian Tour rookie is only eligible to travel overseas if he has obtained a special direction order.

And Peak had experienced multiple hold-ups in his application for his paperwork to travel to New Zealand.

In fact, Peake had only arrived in Queenstown on Tuesday evening, giving him less than 36 hours to prepare for this weekend’s event – and was subsequently played both of Millbrook’s courses on Wednesday to get his bearings.

Speaking earlier this week, Peake said: ‘I can’t get a visa to travel here, so I’ve got to travel on a special direction order,’ said Peake, who sits just outside the top 20 on the Australasian Tour order of merit (OOM).

‘It got granted on the Monday but it took three flights from then that I couldn’t get on.

‘But credit to New Zealand Immigration as well.

‘I thought I was getting stonewalled and wasn’t going to be getting here but they were actually doing everything in the background to get me here.’

The 31-year-old was a promising golfer in his youth and was contacted by his coach Ritchie Smith during his time in prison to take up the sport after he was released from jail.

The Australasian Tour rookie will now tee it up at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland later this year and admitted this weekend’s victor was monumental.

‘I’ve just changed my life. This is what I do,’ Peake said.

‘I want to be here and just play golf.

‘The story is what it is, but I’m just out here playing golf.’

Peake finished a shot clear of compatriot Jack Thompson, Japanese star Kazuki Higa and Ian Snyman of South Africa.

Aussie star James Marchesani – whose dad, Frank, played professional footy for Carlton and Fitzroy – finished T8 alongside Elvis Smylie and Dylan Gardner.