ISU golfer Tyler Swanson shot an even-par 71 Thursday in the first round of the John Deere Classic, played at the Tournament Players Club of Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

The 19-year old sophomore stands six shots behind the leaders of the PGA Tour event and will tee off Friday at 8:45 a.m. The top 70 players and ties out of the 156-player field will make the cut and advance on to the weekend. Swanson is tied for 52nd place.

Jonathan Byrd and J. L. Lewis share the lead with 6-under-par 65’s. Tour veteran Vijay Singh is tied for second one shot back.

Swanson started the day with a bogey on the first hole, but followed up with 13 straight pars. The highlight of his round came when he eagled the 557-yard par-5 17th hole.

“When he eagled 17, the place went nuts,” said ISU men’s golf coach Jay Horton, who is at the tournament. “He had a gallery of a good 300 people.”

Horton said Swanson’s first shot on the 17th left him with about 225 yards to the pin. A 5 iron shot put Swanson within 40 feet of the cup, and he sank the shot for his first PGA Tour eagle.

Swanson had a driving distance average of 309 yards, and he used 30 putts in the round.

Swanson’s first round start ties him with Greg Norman, Bernhard Langer, Jeff Sluman and David Frost, among others. Tournament favorite and player-of-the-year candidate Davis Love III sits at 1-under-par.

Thursday’s conditions saw a temperature in the upper 80s and winds of 10-15 mph.

Coverage of the John Deere Classic can be seen on ESPN from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday.