For the first time in his PGA Tour career, Justin Thomas holds an outright lead at the completion of a round.
Thomas, who co-led the John Deere Classic through 18 holes, shot 4-under 67 Friday at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., to move to 12-under 130, a shot better than Johnson Wagner and Tom Gillis.
The 22-year-old rookie, who shot 75 in the final round to fall out of contention at the Greenbrier Classic, birdied his first two holes Friday and never looked back.
"Later in the day when the greens get a little bumpier, it's harder to make putts," Thomas said, "so to kind of get myself a little bit deep to start.