Arrowtown, New Zealand: Former Australian motorcycle gang member-turned-golfer Ryan Peake, who served a lengthy jail term for assault, produced a “life-changing” maiden win Sunday to qualify for this year´s British Open.

Peake held his nerve for a one-stroke victory at the New Zealand Open, earning him a berth at the major in Portrush, Northern Ireland, in July, pending clearance to travel as a convicted criminal.

The 31-year-old from Perth celebrated animatedly and was showered with champagne by friends on the 18th green of the Millbrook Resort course near Queenstown after a redemption story rarely seen in the refined sport of golf.

Peake held back tears as he admitted a focus on golf had turned his life around — he will now have an expmtion on to the Asian Tour, who co-sanctioned the event with the Australasian Tour. “Yeah, I´m pretty lost for words at the moment, life-changing,” the heavily tattooed Peake said. “It´s one hell of a story, one hell of a moment. Just belief. I always knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time when I was going to do it.

Peake nearly didn´t contest the tournament, having been initially delayed from entering in New Zealand by immigration officials because of his conviction in 2014 for a serious assault as a 21-year-old. He was sentenced to five years in prison, the culmination of what he has admitted were a series of bad decisions that had seen him join an outlawed motorcycle gang, the Rebels.