Ryan Peake triumphed in the New Zealand Open presented Sky Sport today to complete a remarkable Hollywood-style comeback story.

The Australian lefthander dramatically holed a 10-foot par putt on the par-three 18^th to edge it by one and avoid a play-off with three Asian Tour regulars: his compatriot Jack Thompson, Japan’s Kazuki Higa, and South African Ian Snyman.

Peake’s brave putt, the final shot of the tournament, saw him fire a final round five-under-par 66 to finish on 23-under at Millbrook Golf Resort, in scenically spectacular Queenstown.

Thompson carded a 63, while Higa and Snyman both returned 66s – in an event jointly sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, and the Asian Tour, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

Ryan Peake. Picture by Steve McArthur/www.photosport.nz.

Korea’s Guntaek Koh, the leader by four at the start of the day, carded a disappointing 72 to end in fifth place.

Both Thompson and Snyman, playing ahead of Peake, missed makeable birdie putts on the last, from 15 and six feet respectively, which would have seen them reach 23 under.

Peake had only just made it to that total after a birdie on the par-five 17^th, following a brilliant lag putt from 30 feet from the back of the green.

Ten years ago, at the age of 21, he was jailed for five years for assault. He was a member of the Rebels bike gang, having earlier been a promising amateur golfer. It was while he was in prison that renowned coach Ritchie Smith reached out and asked him whether he wanted to play competitive golf again. It was an offer he wisely accepted. His criminal record gave him visa issues entering New Zealand this week, and he only arrived on Tuesday evening.

“I’ve just changed my life,” said Peake.

“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.

“I always knew I could do it. It was just a matter of time of when I was going to do it.”

Ryan Peake receives his Open flag from Ian Baker-Finch. Picture by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.

He becomes the first lefthander to win New Zealand’s National Open since Sir Bob Charles in 1973, and he earned a place in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush, as the event is part of the Open Qualifying Series.

Remarkably, he went bogey-free for his final 55 holes, having dropped his only two shots of the week on the eighth and 15th in the first round.

He was paired in the final group today with Koh, who was three shots clear by the eighth. However, Peake made birdies on nine and 12 to join Koh in a tie for the lead. The Korean then crashed out of contention with three bogeys in-a-row from the 13th hole, while soon after Peake shared top spot with Thompson, Snyman and Higa with two holes to play before the lefthander held his nerve to lift the Brodie Breeze Trophy. On the 18th he missed the green to the right off the tee and faced a testing chip which he left 10 feet short.

China’s Bai Zhengkai closed with a 68 to finish solo sixth while last year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit champion John Catlin from the United States was outright seventh after a 64.

Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho tied for eighth after also shooting 64 – meaning seven Asian Tour members finished in the top eight.

The next event on the Asian Tour is the International Series Macau presented by Wynn in three weeks time.

Korean Guntaek Koh increased his overnight lead from three to four today after shooting a third-round five-under-par 66 to race ahead on 22-under at the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport.

Koh, who is chasing his first victory outside of Korea, leads from Australian Ryan Peake, who is in second, after a 64 on the Millbrook course – a composite layout the features the best holes of the Coronet and Remarkables courses.

Three other Asian Tour players are in hot pursuit of Koh. Japan’s Kazuki Higa (62), South African Ian Snyman (65) and China’s Bai Zhengkai (67) are tied for third, five behind.

Last year Takahiro Hataji became the first player from Japan to win New Zealand’s National Open, and tomorrow Koh will attempt to follow that by becoming the first Korean.

Ryan Peake. Picture by Michael Thomas/Photosport.

For the second day in-a-row he birdied the first three holes and made the turn in three under for his round, after another two birdies off-set two bogeys. The back nine was less frenetic. He made eight pars and holed his second for an eagle two on the 12^th.

It wasn’t as explosive as yesterday’s 61, which matched the course record on the Remarkables, but it was enough to give him a nice cushion going into the biggest day of his four-year professional career tomorrow.

“I did well to handle the pressure today,” said the 25-year-old.

“After a 61 and trying to stay in front there was a lot of pressure, but I am proud of what I achieved. I am taking it shot by shot, not thinking too far ahead. That will be the same tomorrow.”

The Korean may not be well known outside of Korea but he is a proven winner on home soil. Most noticeably he claimed the Shinhan Donghae Open, an Asian Tour event, two years ago in Korea and two Korean PGA Tour events that same season. He also triumphed on his home circuit last year.

Kazuki Higa. Picture by Michael Thomas/Photosport.

He holed a blind wedge shot from 66 metres on 12 that took two bounces before spinning back into the cup.

“I was concerned about how much backspin I’m going to have after the shot, but it just went perfectly,” said Koh, whose girlfriend is caddying for him.

“It’s great that I have a four-shot lead, but this course itself is very scoreable. I need to keep focused on what I’m doing and just make sure I just stay consistent to what I’m doing.”

Lefthander Peake will fancy his chances tomorrow as he is on a streak of 39 holes without a bogey. He only hit three fairways out of 14 today though and will need to get his driver under control if he is to win his first pro event.

“It’s not the flight I want. I’m not getting the distance that I want and I’m just not finding a lot of these fairways,” said the Australian.

“When you get in some of this long rough, it’s hard to get it close and give yourself reasonable birdie opportunities.

“I’m doing well to make a score from where I am. I just need to start hitting some fairways.”

Ian Snyman. Picture by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.

Higa, winner of the money list in Japan in 2022 when he won four times, carded the second lowest round of the day making two eagles on the first and the 17^th, both par fives, seven birdies and two dropped shots.

“Playing very well. Excited about tomorrow and can’t wait to start,” said the Japan golfer, who played his first full season on the Asian Tour last year.

“It’s my goal win outside of Japan. I hope to follow in Hataji-san’s footsteps tomorrow.”

Elvis Smylie from Australia, winner of the Australian PGA Championship last year, carded a 65 and is in sixth place six behind the leader.

American John Catlin, who claimed the Asian Tour Order of Merit title last year, came in with a 70, which saw him slip down the leaderboard. He is in a tie for 16^th, 10 adrift of Koh.

The 104^th edition of the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport is being co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.