ISU men’s golfer Tyler Swanson carded a pair of even-par 71s to survive and play through the weekend at the Tournament Players Club at Deere Run — becoming the first amateur to make the cut at the tournament in 32 years.

He is the first golfer to play in a PGA Tour event while still on the Cyclone team.

“It feels great to make the cut,” Swanson said Monday after concluding the last 12 holes of the tournament. “I played better for two days than Greg Norman, Mark O’Meara, Lee Janzen and some other great players.”

The 19-year-old sophomore on the ISU golf team from Clinton, Iowa held his own at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.

Swanson entered the 156-player field as the only amateur. After Friday’s round, the field was cut to 65 players who shot even par and below. Saturday’s round was rained out, which allowed Swanson to watch the second half of the Iowa State-Iowa football game.

“They first told us the delay would be an hour, then two hours, then four hours, and it didn’t lighten up.” Swanson said. “Then they said, ‘Come back Sunday and we will play as many holes as we can.'”

He shot a 5-over-par 76 on Sunday and then played the first six holes of his last round. Monday, he finished up the remaining 12 holes to finish with a 2-over-par 73 for the final round and tournament total of 7-over-par (291). He finished in 64th place out of the 65 that made the cut.

“I started out rough Sunday going 4-over after three holes, but played the next 15 holes at 1-over par,” Swanson said.

Vijay Singh won the event by four strokes, finishing at 16-under-par (268). The win moved Singh to No. 1 on the PGA Tour’s money list.

ISU men’s golf coach Jay Horton was on hand for Thursday’s first round, but headed back to Ames for the weekend to entertain a recruit.

“I felt like he belonged out there,” Horton said. “I was very impressed that he made the cut in a tour event. That is a fantastic accomplishment.

“He hit it better than I have seen him in a long time. I have watched him play since he was in high school, and he has always had great talent. This week, he showed some maturity and he really started to think around the course.”

Horton expects Swanson to come back more confident having learned a few things from the pros.

“I think consistency is the biggest thing he can take from this week,” Horton said. “He hit it great this week, but the pros hit a few more fairways, a few more greens. Confidence is also something that he can take away.

“He will be a lot more relaxed when we head to the Kansas Invitational next Monday and Tuesday. He will have confidence in himself, and the guys will have confidence in him.”

Besides just making the cut, Swanson also stacked up in some statistical categories. His average driving distance of 298.8 yards made the fifth-longest of the week, and he hit the fairway over 70 percent of the time. He also was second in number of eagles — eagling the 557-yard par-5 17th hole not once, but twice.

“For some reason I guess I just like that hole,” he said. “I made a pretty long putt on Thursday and then Monday I holed out a bunker shot.”

Swanson birdied the 17th in the middle two rounds. Because Swanson was entered as an amateur, he wasn’t able to accept a check of just under $7,500.

“It would have been fun to take it,” Swanson said. “I could have a good time doing something with it.”

Instead of thinking about money, Swanson will spend this week catching up on his school work.

“When I get back in town I am going right to practice to see all the boys,” Swanson said. “I really have to hit the books later tonight.”

Horton is glad to have him back.

“He will have a week of light practice, and he will be spending a lot of time in the classroom,” Horton said.

Swanson said his goal all week was to make the cut and try to soak up as much out of the rare experience as possible.

“I am not really sure what I learned yet,” he said. “I am still kind of trying to think about it.”