Michael Arnaud 2018 BMW Charity Pro-Am Champion

GREENVILLE, S.C. — After earning the last spot in the field at the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation, Michael Arnaud of Covington, Louisiana, flirted with golf immortality during Friday’s second round at tournament host Thornblade Club. Arnaud, who gained his spot when Kent Bulle withdrew, played his first seven holes in 9-under before reaching 11-under through 16 holes, only to par his final two holes for a course record-tying 60. The career-best round pushed Arnaud to 14-under 129 through 36 holes of play, good for a share of the lead alongside Oscar Fraustro and Robby Shelton heading into the weekend in the South Carolina’s Upstate’s long-running Web.com Tour event.

Arnaud, who entered 2018 with conditional status on the Web.com Tour, began his week with a 3-under 69 at The Cliffs Valley before venturing to Thornblade for Friday’s second round.

Beginning on the front nine at the Tom Fazio-designed course, the 36-year-old opened in torrid fashion with two eagles and five birdies in his first seven holes to race out to an incredible 9-under-par start

“I don’t think I’ve ever done that to start a round. I think I’ve had a few times back home where I’ve done it in the middle of the round but never to start the round off,” said Arnaud, who had tournament officials scrambling to verify the scores. “I thought I put a cheat code in for a video game. It almost got laughable.”

Arnaud bogeyed the par-3 ninth to turn in 8-under 27, matching the Web.com Tour’s all-time mark for nine-hole scores.