New Zealand golfer Steve Alker's consistency over four rounds eased him into a creditable share of 19th place at the British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes overnight (NZT).
A final round one-over 72 left Alker in a tie with Americans Hunter Mahan and Bill Haas, and South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.
He finished with a 72-hole total of one-over 281, eight shots behind winner Ernie Els (South Africa).
Els' final-round two-under-par 68 gave him a second Open triumph after Australia's Adam Scott squandered a four-stroke advantage, racking up consecutive bogeys on the last four holes.
Alker was 11th at the halfway stage after two rounds of one-under par 69, but fell seven places down the leaderboard in a third round that included five bogeys and three birdies.
He lifted on the final day, dropping just one shot on the opening 11 holes before closing with two birdies and a brace of bogeys in the final seven.
NZN