Victorian Kris Mueck has regained the lead heading into the final round of the WA Open golf championship at Mount Lawley Golf Club in Perth.

Having led after the first round, Mueck shot a three-under 69 in the third round on Saturday to be nine-under for the tournament.

A shot back is New Zealander Josh Geary, who fired a five-under 67 to be outright second.

“I played much better today than I did yesterday. Probably equally as good as I did in the first round,” said the 23-year-old Mueck from Bendigo.

“I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t had such a good score on Thursday. To get off to a good start in any tournament is great.”

The highlight of the day for Mueck was an eagle on the par-5 17th which moved him back to the top of the leaderboard.

“I hooked it a bit off the tee and it bounced out of the fairway bunker. It finished the perfect yardage for my rescue,” he said.

“I hit a great second shot to within 20 feet. I managed to hole it so that was awesome.”

A win on Sunday would earn Mueck a start in next week’s Perth International as well as all other events on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s schedule.

“I’m excited, I can’t wait,” added Mueck, who will lead a Tour event into the final round for the first time.

“I am not really concerned about what the win gets.”

“There are a lot of guys not too far behind so I will just be trying to do my best.”

On six-under the card and tied for third are PGA Tour of Australasia winners David Bransdon and Matthew Guyatt along with Lincoln Tighe and tour rookie Kieran Muir.

One stroke further back is overnight leader Steve Jones, Nathan Holman, Jason Scrivener and amateur Jarryd Felton.