Dream double for Jones

You could forgive Michael Jones for wanting to pinch himself when he won the De Vere PGA North Region Championship at Herons' Reach less than two weeks after landing his dream job as an assistant at Royal Liverpool.

"So much has happened in a short space of time that it will probably take a few days to sink in," said the Chester-born professional as he closed with an equal best-of-tournament 66 to add to his first round 70 and an eight-under-par total.

"When I saw myself grouped with Barry Taylor and Grant Hamerton, two experienced guys who are usually on top of their game, I knew I had a chance and told myself to stay with them. I was four-under after five holes but I realised I had to maintain my composure and not get too far ahead of myself.

"Winning is a fickle thing. One or two bad shots can spoil your day but I hit a lot of good ones although I was always aware of the tricky finish."

Jones, 29, winner of the PGA North Assistants' Championship at Ilkley in 2010 and the following year, had harvested an eagle and six birdies by the time he reached the par five final hole.

"I'd stuck to my game plan until then and when I hit my drive out of bounds I had to accept a double bogey," he lamented.

But with many of the overnight leaders falling by the wayside, he finished a shot ahead of Teesside's Vincent Guest, who picked up four birdies in the first six hole to post a 67; defending champion Adrian Ambler, from Wakefield club Low Laithes who rued a couple of mistakes in his 69, and Mossock Hall's David Shacklady made a late challenge.

Meanwhile, Jones, a former Cheshire County matchplay champion, turned professional eight years ago when he failed to win a European Tour card. "I always wanted to play at the highest level and haven't given up but I would also like to play in a PGA Cup team," he added.