Peake’s road from jailed bikie to NZ Open champion – and $300,000

With the aid of renowned coach Ritchie Smith and others, Peake then turned his life around without ever hiding from his chequered past.

He received a full card on the Australasian Tour for the first time in 2024-25, and this was his first tournament victory as a professional.

“I always knew I could do it, it was a just a matter of when I was going to do it,” said Peake.

“[Australian PGA winner] Elvis Smylie was in the same predicament not that long ago and our coach Ritchie Smith said it was going to switch, and you’ve just got to commit to it.

“He had the same chat with me after I missed the cut at the Aussie Open and the PGA.

“We set some goals about how to finish the rest of the year.

“Along with my family and my team, everyone believed. And most of all, I believed as well.

“This has changed my life. 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.”

Peake only arrived in Queenstown 36 hours before the tournament began after a hold-up in receiving a special direction order to travel to New Zealand because he is ineligible for a regular visa.

Overnight leader Guntaek Koh from South Korea unravelled on the final day.

After starting the fourth round with a four-shot lead, Koh was overtaken shortly after the turn on Sunday and eventually signed for a two-over 73.

Smylie (69) finished in a tie for 11th to all but secure the 2024-25 Australasian Tour order of merit title.

But Peake could still overtake him if he continues this sort of winning form at the remaining three events of the 2024-25 season, starting with next week’s NZ PGA.