WARRINGTON golfer Phil Archer gave some ‘big names’ of the sport a run for their money in the Senior British Open at Royal Porthcawl over the weekend.

Going round for the final time, alongside former world number one Vijay Singh, the 51-year-old was one shot off the pace.

But his closing 79, following his 73, 70 and 71 scores, let him down in the race for top spot and he finished fifth, four shots behind the winner Alex Cejka.

Nevertheless, that handed Archer the third biggest prize of his career – the almost 95,000 euros purse only being behind his 2007 scoops from second-place finishes in the Omega European Masters and Mercedes-Benz Championship.

In the end, Germany’s Cejka, who was the overnight leader, defeated Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in a play-off to win the Senior British Open in Bridgend.

Cejka claimed his third Senior major title after he and Harrington had finished tied on five over par following a final round played in miserable wet and windy conditions.

Archer, a fan of all sports and an accomplished snooker player, has been a professional golfer since 1991.

He first tried the sport aged nine at Birchwood Golf Club, where his father Derek was a founder member.