Next time Andrew Landry tees it up in a PGA Tour event, on April 4 in San Antonio, it will be as defending champion of the Valero Texas Open. He should do it with renewed confidence, thanks to a terrific final round in the Valspar Championship.

Landry matched Sunday’s low round of 68 over the rugged Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort outside Tampa, and did it despite a late double bogey. It helped him climb 22 places up the leaderboard into a tie for 46th with a 72-hole total of 287.

While Landry rebounded strong from Saturday’s ugly 76, the news was not so good for fellow PN-G ex Chris Stroud. Burdened by a triple bogey 8 on the par
5, 11th, Stroud shot 76 for 293. He tied for 68th.

Paul Casey survived a final round 72 to win with 276, edging Louie Oosthuizen and Jason Kokrak by one stroke.

Lamar ex Shawn Stefani continued his weekend fade with a 72 and wound up tied for 31st at 284. Sfefani had been tied for 10th at the 36-hole mark but closed with 73-72.

Landry, who has been struggling, enjoyed one of his best ball striking rounds of the year, hitting 9 of 13 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. He got to three under through the strength of birdies at Nos. 3 (21 feet, 4 inches), 8 (12-8) and 10 (9-4). Then came the double bogey on the par 3, 13th that threatened to undermine his round.

He bounced back, however with birdies on the par 5, 14th (7-1) and the par 4, 18th (20-9). The tie for 46th was Landry’s highest since he tied for 28th some six tournaments ago at the Desert Classic.

Stroud, meanwhile, saw a strength turn to a weakness in the final round with poor putting. He managed only one birdie on the par 3, 17th, missed on several good looks and had a couple of three putts. On the par 5, 14th, he was putting for eagle from 27 feet and walked away with a par.

While Landry will be taking next week off, Stroud plans to play in the PGA Tour satellite event being held in the Dominican Republic. The game’s top players will be in Austin for the World Match Play Championship.

In the Web.com Tour Chitimacha Louisiana Open, West Orange-Stark ex Michael Arnaud posted a four-over-par 75 to drop into a tie for 74th at 286.