A WINTER'S hard work has paid rich dividends for Michael Jones.

The Upton-by-Chester player has just been crowned Chester Matchplay champion after three days of tough golf over the Bram-hall course.

Jones, a regular member of the Cheshire team, pipped James West (Altrincham) 1 up in the final, winning two of the final three holes to secure his first major county title.

And Jones believes the fact that he finished so strongly after playing six rounds in the space of just three days is down to a new fitness regime.

"I put a lot of work in at the gym on my fitness, both in the gym and running," explained the 21-year-old, whose home borders the second hole at his home course. "There are a lot of good golfers out there and it is about finding something that will give you an edge in the competitions.

"I never really felt tired throughout the competition - only afterwards!

"I have been working with Steve Priest from Vicars Cross to build up my muscles and improve my flexibility.

"I have been going to the gym five times a week. It is not about body building, but getting stronger in the key muscles and improving my stamina.

"They say a fit body makes for a fit mind, and while I have worked hard at my golf game, too, feeling fit gives you something else in your locker.

"It was nice to feel I was one of the fittest players out there and that two rounds a day or games going to extra holes would not be a problem for me. "I went into the tournament with the confidence of knowing that I was as fully prepared as possible, whatever the out-come, and with a will to win."

Jones already has a number of junior titles under his belt, but is delighted to have added a senior title.

"I have nearly 40 caps with the Cheshire county team, but always felt that you need to win a county title to be regarded as one of the best players," he said, "and I am really pleased that I have achieved that."

He first took up golf at the age of 11, through friends and quickly found he had a natural apptitude for the game.

"I had always played a lot of sports to a decent level, such as football, and golf was a chance to try something differ-ent," he said.. "I have always been very competitive, whether it is golf, football or heads and tails!"

His list of junior victories includes the Cheshire Under-15 championship, the North of England Boys and the North Wales Boys, while he also won a place on a ten-day training camp at David Ledbetter's Florida base.

"That was a tremendous experience," added Jones. "When you were not practicising golf, you were talking about it. It was like being back at school.

"Everything was run to a timetable with things like fitness, psychology and the work ethic all covered.

"A lot of the pieces of the jigsaw came together."

By the age of 17, he was playing off scratch. As part of his learning process, he spent four years at Royal Liverpool.

"It is a fantastic club and was a great experience," he reflected.

"It was links golf, which I did not have a lot of experience of, and is a tremendous place to play.

"However coming back to Upton-by-Chester means I can put in a lot more practice because everything is so handy, and if I want to get up at six in the morning I can be on the course in a matter of minutes."

Jones, who works part-time at the Golf depot in Chester, had a strong week in the Cheshire Matchplay Championship, but found himself two down at the turn in the quarter-finals before battling back to win and then winning the 16th and 17th in the final to overturn a one hole defecit.

"I was two down early on but all square by the eighth,"

Jones recalled. "I then three-putted the 11th to go one down again, but I stayed upbeat and patient and got back into it with some solid golf on the closing holes.

"We both missed the final green, I ended up near a bush, but I scrambled back and ended up with a two foot putt for the championship."

Looking to the future, Jones would like to turn professional but is keen to work on a PGA coaching diploma so that he can teach as well as play.

"It would be nice to put something back into the game and the right qualifications will help keep my options open, including possibly going abroad," he added..

"In the meantime I just want to keep on working hard at my game and keep on improving.

"I would love to defend my matchplay title next year at Heswall.

"And am looking forward to the strokeplay event in late June at Royal Liverpool."