Latest news with #ScottVincent
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former prisoner aiming to write next chapter of redemption at The Open
Ryan Peake of Australia pictured on Friday, July 4, 2025, during the Second Round of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam(Red Course) in Rabat. The USD $2,000,000 event is staged from July 3-6, 2025. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour Australian golfer Ryan Peake is preparing to write the next chapter of his remarkable redemption story at The 153rd Open Championship this week. In March this year, the left-hander qualified for the fourth and final major of the year, at Royal Portrush, with victory at the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. Advertisement That first ever professional victory, on his Asian Tour debut, took place a little over 10 years after a conviction and five-year jail sentence for assault aged just 21. A promising youth golfer, Peake had lost his way and became a member of a notorious motorcycle gang in Australia. Now 31, Peake warmed up for his big date in Northern Ireland with a T33 finish behind ultimate champion Scott Vincent at International Series Morocco, the fourth of 10 elevated Asian Tour events that offer a pathway onto the LIV Golf League. Things could have been even better too – Peake sat T12 following a five-under third round of 68. It's a remarkable recovery, from the lows of incarceration to the highs of elite competitive golf against some of the world's best. It is one that may not have happened at all had Peake not been contacted by former coach Ritchie Smith while in jail. Smith, who works with fellow Australians such as PGA Tour winner Min Woo Lee and sister Minjee Lee, a three-time major champion among others, wrote to Peake while in prison to offer words of encouragement for a player he had worked with as a 17-year-old. Peake responded with an apologetic letter of his own, and from that point on, his future changed. Ryan Peake of Australia pictured on Sunday , July 6, 2025, during the Fourth Round of the International Series Morocco at Royal Golf Dar Es Salam(Red Course) in Rabat. The USD $2,000,000 event is staged from July 3-6, 2025. Picture by Steve Bardens/Asian Tour (Steve Bardens) Peake explained: 'For someone of his calibre to reach out to someone like me and pretty much drag me out of the trenches, you know, it doesn't speak volumes on me, it speaks volumes on him.' Advertisement 'There was obviously a lot of changes that we had to make, there were vigorous programmes set out. It was up to about a five-year plan, and, yes, he believed we could do it. He pretty much worked out the mapping and the planning of what we were going to do, and I just stuck with it.' Peake admits the mental aspect was the more challenging as he plotted his climb back to the top following his eventual release in 2019. It took a number of years and a lot of sacrifices and graft before he earned full playing privileges on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia for the 2024-2025 season, and that life-changing victory in New Zealand. He said: 'I had already got pretty fit in there, so it was more just mental - basically going from not having any real aspirations in life to then trying to basically tell yourself, while still in prison, that you are going to become a professional golfer. You know there's a bit of mental work to get there.' 'Your team can only push you so far and tell you so much, and the rest of it, you have to start to believe in it yourself. It did take me some time, but I got there in the end!' Advertisement The left-hander was full of praise for the opportunities being offered by the Asian Tour and The International Series. He said: 'At the moment, I'm fresh out here on the Asian Tour.' 'Events like these (International Series Morocco) attract high profile names. You are on the Asian Tour, which is a great tour, but then when you have major champions playing as well, and the elevated prize purses, it just gives it that added significance. These 10 events are growing the Asian Tour massively.' 'I'm out here trying to play the best golf that I can, and whatever those pathways provide me, the more the merrier. Definitely, I'm chasing every single pathway that there is.' Looking ahead to his chances in Northern Ireland this week, he added: 'A lot of this stuff wasn't on the programme. But, you know, obviously I am excited to play. I don't think I really know how big it is, to be honest, but obviously once I get there and sort of have a bit of a look around, it'll probably hit me a little bit more.' Advertisement Teeing it up alongside Peake are three players from the LIV Golf League who earned their places via the Open Qualifying Series at International Series Macau presented by Wynn. Macau champion Carlos Ortiz, the Torque GC player, is joined by 2018 Masters champion and 4Aces GC star Patrick Reed plus Jason Kokrak of Smash GC for the tournament which gets underway on Thursday. Building on his victory in Macau, Ortiz has continued to impress with a T4 finish at the U.S. Open and three top-10 performances in Miami, Korea, and Virginia. Reed has also been in red-hot form since then, placing third at this year's Masters and securing a win at LIV Golf Dallas. Kokrak, meanwhile, recently posted a solid T10 finish in Andalucía ahead of the final Major of the year.
South Wales Argus
16-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Former prisoner aiming to write next chapter of redemption at The Open
In March this year, the left-hander qualified for the fourth and final major of the year, at Royal Portrush, with victory at the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport. That first ever professional victory, on his Asian Tour debut, took place a little over 10 years after a conviction and five-year jail sentence for assault aged just 21. A promising youth golfer, Peake had lost his way and became a member of a notorious motorcycle gang in Australia. Now 31, Peake warmed up for his big date in Northern Ireland with a T33 finish behind ultimate champion Scott Vincent at International Series Morocco, the fourth of 10 elevated Asian Tour events that offer a pathway onto the LIV Golf League. Things could have been even better too – Peake sat T12 following a five-under third round of 68. It's a remarkable recovery, from the lows of incarceration to the highs of elite competitive golf against some of the world's best. It is one that may not have happened at all had Peake not been contacted by former coach Ritchie Smith while in jail. Smith, who works with fellow Australians such as PGA Tour winner Min Woo Lee and sister Minjee Lee, a three-time major champion among others, wrote to Peake while in prison to offer words of encouragement for a player he had worked with as a 17-year-old. Peake responded with an apologetic letter of his own, and from that point on, his future changed. Peake explained: 'For someone of his calibre to reach out to someone like me and pretty much drag me out of the trenches, you know, it doesn't speak volumes on me, it speaks volumes on him.' 'There was obviously a lot of changes that we had to make, there were vigorous programmes set out. It was up to about a five-year plan, and, yes, he believed we could do it. He pretty much worked out the mapping and the planning of what we were going to do, and I just stuck with it.' Peake admits the mental aspect was the more challenging as he plotted his climb back to the top following his eventual release in 2019. It took a number of years and a lot of sacrifices and graft before he earned full playing privileges on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia for the 2024-2025 season, and that life-changing victory in New Zealand. He said: 'I had already got pretty fit in there, so it was more just mental - basically going from not having any real aspirations in life to then trying to basically tell yourself, while still in prison, that you are going to become a professional golfer. You know there's a bit of mental work to get there.' 'Your team can only push you so far and tell you so much, and the rest of it, you have to start to believe in it yourself. It did take me some time, but I got there in the end!' The left-hander was full of praise for the opportunities being offered by the Asian Tour and The International Series. He said: 'At the moment, I'm fresh out here on the Asian Tour.' 'Events like these (International Series Morocco) attract high profile names. You are on the Asian Tour, which is a great tour, but then when you have major champions playing as well, and the elevated prize purses, it just gives it that added significance. These 10 events are growing the Asian Tour massively.' 'I'm out here trying to play the best golf that I can, and whatever those pathways provide me, the more the merrier. Definitely, I'm chasing every single pathway that there is.' Looking ahead to his chances in Northern Ireland this week, he added: 'A lot of this stuff wasn't on the programme. But, you know, obviously I am excited to play. I don't think I really know how big it is, to be honest, but obviously once I get there and sort of have a bit of a look around, it'll probably hit me a little bit more.' Teeing it up alongside Peake are three players from the LIV Golf League who earned their places via the Open Qualifying Series at International Series Macau presented by Wynn. Macau champion Carlos Ortiz, the Torque GC player, is joined by 2018 Masters champion and 4Aces GC star Patrick Reed plus Jason Kokrak of Smash GC for the tournament which gets underway on Thursday. Building on his victory in Macau, Ortiz has continued to impress with a T4 finish at the U.S. Open and three top-10 performances in Miami, Korea, and Virginia. Reed has also been in red-hot form since then, placing third at this year's Masters and securing a win at LIV Golf Dallas. Kokrak, meanwhile, recently posted a solid T10 finish in Andalucía ahead of the final Major of the year.
The Herald Scotland
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Former prisoner aiming to write next chapter of redemption at The Open
That first ever professional victory, on his Asian Tour debut, took place a little over 10 years after a conviction and five-year jail sentence for assault aged just 21. A promising youth golfer, Peake had lost his way and became a member of a notorious motorcycle gang in Australia. Now 31, Peake warmed up for his big date in Northern Ireland with a T33 finish behind ultimate champion Scott Vincent at International Series Morocco, the fourth of 10 elevated Asian Tour events that offer a pathway onto the LIV Golf League. Things could have been even better too – Peake sat T12 following a five-under third round of 68. It's a remarkable recovery, from the lows of incarceration to the highs of elite competitive golf against some of the world's best. It is one that may not have happened at all had Peake not been contacted by former coach Ritchie Smith while in jail. Smith, who works with fellow Australians such as PGA Tour winner Min Woo Lee and sister Minjee Lee, a three-time major champion among others, wrote to Peake while in prison to offer words of encouragement for a player he had worked with as a 17-year-old. Peake responded with an apologetic letter of his own, and from that point on, his future changed. Peake explained: 'For someone of his calibre to reach out to someone like me and pretty much drag me out of the trenches, you know, it doesn't speak volumes on me, it speaks volumes on him.' 'There was obviously a lot of changes that we had to make, there were vigorous programmes set out. It was up to about a five-year plan, and, yes, he believed we could do it. He pretty much worked out the mapping and the planning of what we were going to do, and I just stuck with it.' Peake admits the mental aspect was the more challenging as he plotted his climb back to the top following his eventual release in 2019. It took a number of years and a lot of sacrifices and graft before he earned full playing privileges on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia for the 2024-2025 season, and that life-changing victory in New Zealand. He said: 'I had already got pretty fit in there, so it was more just mental - basically going from not having any real aspirations in life to then trying to basically tell yourself, while still in prison, that you are going to become a professional golfer. You know there's a bit of mental work to get there.' 'Your team can only push you so far and tell you so much, and the rest of it, you have to start to believe in it yourself. It did take me some time, but I got there in the end!' The left-hander was full of praise for the opportunities being offered by the Asian Tour and The International Series. He said: 'At the moment, I'm fresh out here on the Asian Tour.' 'Events like these (International Series Morocco) attract high profile names. You are on the Asian Tour, which is a great tour, but then when you have major champions playing as well, and the elevated prize purses, it just gives it that added significance. These 10 events are growing the Asian Tour massively.' 'I'm out here trying to play the best golf that I can, and whatever those pathways provide me, the more the merrier. Definitely, I'm chasing every single pathway that there is.' Looking ahead to his chances in Northern Ireland this week, he added: 'A lot of this stuff wasn't on the programme. But, you know, obviously I am excited to play. I don't think I really know how big it is, to be honest, but obviously once I get there and sort of have a bit of a look around, it'll probably hit me a little bit more.' Teeing it up alongside Peake are three players from the LIV Golf League who earned their places via the Open Qualifying Series at International Series Macau presented by Wynn. Macau champion Carlos Ortiz, the Torque GC player, is joined by 2018 Masters champion and 4Aces GC star Patrick Reed plus Jason Kokrak of Smash GC for the tournament which gets underway on Thursday. Building on his victory in Macau, Ortiz has continued to impress with a T4 finish at the U.S. Open and three top-10 performances in Miami, Korea, and Virginia. Reed has also been in red-hot form since then, placing third at this year's Masters and securing a win at LIV Golf Dallas. Kokrak, meanwhile, recently posted a solid T10 finish in Andalucía ahead of the final Major of the year.
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Scott Vincent seals emotional comeback win at International Series Morocco
Overwhelmed and visibly moved, Scott Vincent described his win at the International Series – Morocco as 'an amazing week' and 'an amazing day' after sealing a commanding victory on Sunday. This is incredible, so amazing to be here and so thankful,' said the Zimbabwean star, who held off a strong field to return to the winner's circle in style. Vincent, 33, produced a composed final round of three-under 70 at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course) in Rabat, finishing at 14-under-par 278—four shots clear of Thailand's fast-finishing Danthai Boonma, who posted a sizzling 66. He then admitted to battling inner frustrations on the back nine as birdie opportunities repeatedly slipped by. 'It was a challenge, for sure, because I didn't know where I was standing, and it just felt like I was missing all those opportunities,' he said. 'But what can you do? You just have to get on to the next hole and try and do your best from there. And then I look up on the last and it's a three-shot lead. And I was like, 'wow, it all paid off!'' UAE Players on Display Among those in the field with UAE connections were Joel Stalter, Dominic Foos, Gaganjeet Bhullar, and amateur Ahmad Skaik. The win marks Vincent's second Asian Tour title, both coming in International Series events—the first being at the International Series England in 2022. This latest triumph propels him to No.1 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and second in the International Series Rankings, just behind Australia's Lucas Herbert. The top player in those standings at season's end typically secures a coveted spot on the LIV Golf League. Vincent, who lost his LIV Golf card last season, is enjoying a phenomenal resurgence in 2025. This victory in Morocco is his eighth top-12 finish in 11 worldwide starts this year, cementing his place among the season's most consistent performers. On the demanding 7,630-yard par-73 layout designed by Robert Trent Jones, Vincent delivered a ball-striking masterclass—hitting 17 greens in regulation on Sunday. His only blemishes were a pair of three-putt bogeys, but he never relinquished control. He also offered insight into his mindset on a course known for punishing errant shots: 'The key is to accept that mistakes will be made.' Behind him, Boonma charged up the leaderboard with his bogey-free round, but it wasn't enough to reel in the composed Zimbabwean. Meanwhile, American Peter Uihlein briefly threatened with three birdies on the front nine before fading to a tie for third with Denzel Ieremia of New Zealand (69) and Maverick Antcliff of Australia (72), all finishing at nine-under-par. Strong Birdie Finish American Austen Truslow, a former Korn Ferry Tour standout, birdied his last three holes to grab solo sixth—his best result yet on the Asian Tour. Vincent now joins an elite group of multiple International Series champions, alongside Uihlein, Carlos Ortiz (Mexico), Ben Campbell (New Zealand), Andy Ogletree (US), and Sarit Suwannarut (Thailand). Looking ahead, the International Series continues with the Indonesian Masters at Royal Jakarta Golf Club from October 2–5, while the next Asian Tour Order of Merit Qualifier is the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, from July 17–20. Final Scores (Top 5):
The Sun
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Vincent stays patient to remain on top of leaderboard in Rabat
Scott Vincent was rewarded for showing the patience befitting a saint, making a late birdie on the 17th hole that edged him ahead by one shot at the end of the third round in the US$2 million (RM8.4m) International Series Morocco. At the par-73 Royal Golf Dar Es Salam course on Saturday, the Zimbabwean started the penultimate round leading by two shots, and despite a solid day of ball striking, his putter refused to cooperate. Vincent made only two birdies in a bogey-free round of two-under par 71 and stayed ahead of the fast-charging Thai Settee Prakongvech (67), who closed with a disappointing bogey. China's Bobby Bai matched Settee's 67 and took possession of third place on the leaderboard at nine-under par total. The Aussie duo of Jack Buchanan (68) and Maverick Antcliff (72), American Austen Truslow (69) and Thai Suteepat Prateeptienchai (71) were in a tie for fourth place at eight-under. Two-time International Series champion, American Peter Uihlein (72) made a bogey on the last hole to slip and join China's Yanwei Liu (71) in tied eighth place. Vincent's was one of only two bogey-free rounds of the day, a clear indicator that the course was playing difficult, but the 33-year-old Denver, Colorado resident was rarely in trouble. He made a birdie on the par-five fifth hole and had several looks at birdies but failed to make any apart from the chip to two feet on the drivable par-four 17th hole. On the par-four 16th, his birdie putt from 10 feet made a hard 360-degree horseshoe, and on the par-five 18th, he left it short by inches, again from 10 feet. 'It was great, a little challenging for me out there. I didn't feel like I drove it particularly well, which just made it a little harder. But all in all, it was nice, solid and steady, and always nice to play bogey-free,' said the man whose last international win was almost three years and one month ago in the 2022 International Series England.
