PETER Robinson kicked off the festive season at Colchester Golf Club by smashing the bumper field in the John Champ Vets Christmas Stableford.

Robinson, playing off 14 handicap, was a clear five-shot leader on 43 points to leave the other 74 veterans floundering in his wake.

He had three birdies in a wonder round and stood on the 15th tee at level par gross - not bad off 14!

Opening with five straight pars, Robinson bogeyed the sixth but a birdie at the ninth hole meant he was out in 36 gross for the front half.

He continued his momentum with a birdie at ten and another at the par-three 13th cancelling out drop shots at the 11th and 12th.

When he parred the 14th he was still level par, before reality finally kicked in.

But despite two bogies and two double bogies in the last four holes, Robinson’s preparations for the victory speech were never ever in doubt.

His previous best competition score of the year was 36 points way back in the summer but this Christmas fanfare earned him a two-shot cut to 12.

Runner-up on countback was David Latta who shot a solid 38 points off ten handicap to earn himself a one-shot cut and squeeze past David Kemble who also shot 38.

Latta birdied the par-three fourth hole but nine pars kept him on the straight and narrow, to claim second place.

Kemble, off 18, compiled 20 on the front nine and 18 on the back half – his only blemish being a blowout on the 11th.

Ernie Free, 17, was fourth on 37 points –a 6-6 finish costing him dear – with John Dornan, six, finishing fifth on 36 and Nick Clare, 17, sixth on countback. Latta took nearest the pin on eight with Peter Anderson nearest on hole 16.