The Axedale golfer has been in sparkling touch in Pro-Am events this month and admitted to striking the ball well ahead of the Championships at Forest Resort Creswick.

Last Thursday, Mueck won the $10,000 North Western Golf Classic at Goonawara Golf Club by a shot, following a sizzling five-under 67.

The young gun fired five birdies and an eagle at the course where he has played regularly in recent years.

However, it was only his second tournament back after a break over Christmas during which he hardly touched his golf bag.

“It must have just been luck on Thursday because I had a fair bit of time off over Christmas and barely picked up a club. I hardly practised at all before the Pro-Ams,” Mueck said.

In his first event after Christmas, Mueck tied for 12th, with a two-under 70 at the $30,000 Portsea Pro-Am on January 2.

He was tied 10th at the Clifton Springs Celebrity Pro-Am with a par 71 on Sunday, before tying for sixth after a two-under 70 yesterday at the Curlewis Pro-Am. 

Mueck’s only bad round came the day after his win at Goonawara at the Lonsdale Pro-Am, when his score blew out to six-over 77 on the final few holes as he chased the money.

“I lost it towards the end. 

“I knew I needed about plus-two to get in the money and ended-up plus-six,” he said.

“You just put it behind you and don’t worry too much. I feel like I’m hitting the ball pretty well, so we’ll see how I go tomorrow.

“(Creswick’s) a tough course. I didn’t make the cut there last year – the greens are ridiculously sloping on some of the holes.”

Last year was Mueck’s only experience at Creswick, while he has not made the cut in his two previous Victorian PGA Championships.

He will be facing an experienced field this year, with 27 PGA Tour of Australasia winners among the 132 competitors.

Veteran campaigners Peter O’Malley, Terry Price, Paul Gow, Paul Sheehan, Scott Laycock, Andre Stolz, Michael Long and Terry Pilkadaris will all tee off tomorrow at Creswick, as will defending champion, Gareth Paddison from New Zealand.

Following the $130,000 Championships Mueck will play the four-day Heritage Classic at the Heritage Golf and Country Club starting January 24.

After that is the Victorian Open in February and New Zealand PGA Championships in Queenstown.