ARIAN Masud started his golfing year with a win at Colchester Golf Club’s Walk-On Stableford.

Masud, one of Colchester many improving juniors, recorded a solid 36 points from his eight handicap to clear the chasing pack by two points.

With doubles at the ninth and 13th he could have easily improved his round but he did finish with a birdie on the 18th, which is a feather in anyone’s cap at Colchester.

Second spot went to another eight handicapper, Keith Jacobs, who returned a credible 34 on a course playing long after all the wet weather.

Richard Hayes (12) was hard on his heels with a 33 and fourth spot went to Peter Clarke (18), with 32 points.

The knockout stages of the winter leagues have been taking place at Colchester GC, with the competition now in its semi-final stage.

With three of the four semi-finalists known, Martin Hall and Danny Simmons have been drawn against Lewis Barber and James Angel.

Simon Rippingale and Mike Mays are the third known semi-finalists.

Rippingale and Mays won the competition back in 1990, a feat they are trying to repeat.

Their opponents will be either Glenn Sibbons and Paul Jackson who will face Ben and Joe Williams, champions in 2015 and 2016, in the quarter-finals.