MOREHEAD, Ky. -- As the PGA Tour's Barbasol Championship unfolded last weekend at Keene Trace in Nicholasville, Ky., the tournament field had a distinct Morehead State feel - and not just with the men swinging the clubs. 

Former Eagle Josh Teater played in the event, finishing tied for 15th, while current Eagle Joe Muschong and head coach Matthew Martin had the unique opportunity to caddy during the event. As did former Eagle and son of former head coach Rex Chaney, Lee Chaney. He caddies for Teater. 

Muschong caddied for PGA Tour pro James Hahn, and Martin was on the bag for Daniel Chopra. Both admitted their experiences were second-to-none.

"My experience at the Barbasol Championship was priceless," said Muschong, who finished his fourth season at MSU in 2020-21. "I would classify it as one of the coolest experiences in my golf career at this point. It was a great opportunity to meet lots of people who are very important to the game of golf at the professional level and also to work alongside them this week. More importantly, it was really cool to have a PGA Tour Pro as my boss for the week."

Muschong had the rare opportunity to be giving course advice during one of the best rounds in Barbasol Championship history, and PGA Tour history. Hahn, originally from South Korea and who attended California for college golf, fired a course record 60 on the Saturday of the event. He also nearly won the whole event, eventually finishing tied for fifth.

Muschong basically fell into the job for the week. He works at Keene Trace, and Hahn came calling for a caddy.

"I got the job basically on pure luck. Recently, he (Hahn) had parted with his old caddy and wasn't even planning on playing in the Barbasol until he entered very late," said Muschong. "His new caddy, Mike Darby, was in Canada and wasn't going to be able to make it to the tournament on time due to COVID protocols. So James called our golf shop at Keene Trace, said he needed a caddy for the week, and I got lucky!"

For Martin, in his eighth season at the Eagles' head coach, it was a similar scenario. He was ready for the assignment. 

"Former Morehead golfer and graduate Bruce Walters knows Daniel Chopra well and connected us," he said. "They both spend time at Bay Hill in Orlando.  When Daniel needed a caddy for the week, I was more than ready to caddy for him."

But, having played the game most of their lives, there is a distinct difference between playing and caddying they both admit.

"I'd say the main difference between playing and caddying is the fact that you have no control over the outcome of the shot," said Muschong. "As a caddy, you can draw up the perfect shot, but you can't hit it. You have to trust your player to handle that part."

"Before the week started I asked professional caddy and alum Lee Chaney for some tips," said Martin. "Caddying is similar to coaching.  You are not actually hitting the shots, but you are doing everything you can to make sure your player approaches each shot with the optimal plan and mindset."

Muschong relished the fact he was kind of in the limelight himself as Hahn was looking to make history. Muschong even received some local news media publicity.

"The most rewarding part of the week to me was watching James have an opportunity to win the golf tournament with a few holes to play. That is what these guys on tour work for day in and day out," he said. "They work so hard to just have a chance to win with nine holes or so left, so it was rewarding to me that we were in that situation and that I got to experience that."

It wasn't easy, Muschong admitted. Having worked at and played at Keene Trace for many years and knowing the course, he still had to help Hahn fight through some adversity. 

"As for the most challenging, our final six holes on Friday was the answer there," he said. "James has recently been injured and fighting his game a bit. He had missed a good amount of cuts coming into the week, and with six holes to play we were right on the cut line. I knew what it would mean to him to make a cut and get that monkey off his back, and I also knew that that was what he was thinking about the most. So those last six holes were very stressful, but he played them like a true veteran and made the cut and went on to have a great weekend."

For Martin, his playing partner Chopra was not as fortunate and missed the cut after Friday, but he said he would not trade the experience for anything. 

"Getting to walk inside the ropes and be part of the process that goes into every shot provided insight on how I can apply some of the same principles to our program," he said.

Whether caddying, coaching or playing, The M & M (Muschong and Martin) combo for Morehead State is one that has taken the program to a higher level.