Andrew Landry rode a sizzling finish to a three-under par 69 Thursday and a tie for seventh in the opening round of the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

Landry, who was one-over-par through 11 holes, rolled in four birdies the rest of the way to go from well back in the pack to within two shots of Grayson Murray’s lead. Five players are bunched one stroke behind Murray.

Two of Landry’s closing birdies were on 3-par holes. He sank a 13 footer on the 209-yard, 13th and an 11 footer on the 194-yard 16th. He two-putted for birdie on the par 5, 14th and buried an 8-footer on the par 5, 18th.

While things were going well for Landry, another Port Neches-Groves ex, Chris Stroud, struggled. Stroud, who has missed back-to-back cuts, shot a 7-over par 79.

Also appearing to be in trouble after Thursday’s round was Lamar ex Shawn Stefani who shot 75.