SMU Colt Knost walks the course at the Byron Nelson Classic. (John Schreiber)

IRVING – Call it a sophomore slump, or maybe just a bad round. But former SMU golfer Colt Knost’s return to the Byron Nelson Championship on Thursday didn’t go the way he wanted.

Knost had a double bogey and two bogeys, including one on his final hole, to finish with a 4-over 74. That puts Knost seven back of the leaders.

Afterward, Knost opted not talk to the media, instead ignoring requests and walking directly to a shuttle that drove him back to the clubhouse.

It was a far cry from last year, when Knost was the feel-good story of the 2007 tournament. He shot a record-low six under par 64 in the second round, which is the lowest round shot by an amateur in the tournament’s history.

Knost’s troubles began on the par-4 No. 18. His second shot landed off the green and behind a bunker. Knost attempted to chip the ball onto the green near the tee, but it fell far short and landed in the bunker instead. His fourth shot got out of the bunker but was not close enough to the hole for a quality shot. It took two putts to finish the hole, giving Knost a double bogey.

Until that point Knost had been even through the first eight holes and seemed to have luck on his side. On one hole, Knost’s drive landed outside the fairway but hit the retaining wall of a backyard and rolled back onto the course.

Knost bogeyed two holes on the front nine part of the course. He bogeyed the par four No. 3 and the final hole of the day for him, the par-4 No. 9. Both bogeys occurred when long puts fell short of the hole.

Knost was also a witness to a hole in one at No. 17. One of the members of his playing group, Kevin Streelman made the perfect shot on the redesigned 198-yard No. 17.

Three golfers are tied for the lead at the end of the first round. Mathew Goggin, Ryan Moore and Eric Axley all shot 3-under-par 67s on Thursday. Recent Masters champion Trevor Immelman struggled at the Nelson during his first round of play since winning. He shot an 8-over 78.

Knost tees off Friday at the No. 1 hole at 1:54 p.m.