Zach Johnson and Andrew Landry will head into Sunday’s final round of the Valero Texas Open with a share of the lead at 13-under par.
Johnson, the overnight co-leader, got off to a rough start with two bogeys in his first four holes.
But the two-time Valero winner settled down and finished his final 14 holes bogey-free, highlighted by birdies on 14, 15 and 18 to sign for a 4-under 68, and a share of the lead at 13 under.
The 42-year-old Iowa native will be seeking his 13th PGA Tour title on Sunday, and the first since the 2015 British Open.
“I’ve got 18 holes to get to that point. I’ve got to do exactly what I did on the back side and that was give myself opportunities on every hole,” said Johnson.
“I’m putting great, I’m seeing the lines well, my caddie’s reading the greens well, so it’s just a matter of committing and executing down the stretch.”
Landry, who started the day just one off the lead, mixed six pars with three birdies on Nos. 3, 5 and 6 to turn in 33. Going home, the Arkansas native opened with six-straight pars, but closed birdie-birdie-par to secure a share of the low 54-hole mark alongside Johnson.
The 30-year old Landry has been something of a hit or miss this season. In his 11 starts, Landry has three top 7s (2nd, T4, T7) and nothing better than a T42 in his other eight starts, which includes six missed-cuts.
“I just did everything really good. I was staying patient and just trying to make a bunch of pars,” said Landry, who’s hit 43 of 54 greens through 54 holes, tops among the field.
“This golf course can come up and bite you in a heartbeat.”
Trey Mullinax shot a course-record 62, and sits solo-third at 12-under par.
“It’s probably one of the best rounds I’ve ever had,” said Mullinax. “To go out there and shoot 62 on a hard golf course is really good.”
One further back was Ryan Moore, who, like Johnson, got off to a slow start and turned in 38. But the five-time Tour winner cruised home clean with four birdies to post a 2-under 70 and a three-day total of 11 under.
With a birdie-birdie-eagle finish, Sean O’Hair carded a 65 to join Chris Kirk (68), Jimmy Walker (67), and Martin Laird (69) at 9 under.
First-round leader Grayson Murray opened his round with a double and closed his front nine with three-straight bogeys, but played his final nine holes bogey-free, carding birdies on 14, 15 and 18 to get back to even-par 72 and remain in the hunt at 8-under par, alongside Richy Werenski.
TOP 10 LEADERS
1 Andrew Landry -13
1 Zach Johnson -13
3 Trey Mullinax -12
4 Ryan Moore -11
5 Sean O’Hair -9
5 Jimmy Walker -9
5 Chris Kirk -9
5 Martin Laird -9
9 Richy Werenski -8
9 Grayson Murray -8
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“I’m a good putter and I just need to give myself a lot of opportunities tomorrow like I did today. I’ll be looking forward to tomorrow.”
– Andrew Landry
Credit: PGA Tour Media, Getty Imahes
