WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Jonathan Bartlett got just what he wanted from the inaugural Greenbrier Classic on the historic Old White course.

He got to play the weekend.

Well, Saturday at least.

Bartlett, who got into the tournament on a special exemption for winning the West Virginia State Amateur, didn’t make the second cut after the field was whittled down Saturday.

It’s hard to tell if it was more exciting for him or his caddie, Matt Ernst.

Ernst owns a summer home at The Greenbrier’s Sporting Club, where Bartlett works as a real estate salesman.

“We’ve been friends for a couple of years,” Ernst, an entrepreneur from Virginia who deals in software, said. “To get out there and see how these guys play was really something. They don’t make mistakes. I had a great time. I’m thankful to him for allowing me to do this.”

It was the former college baseball player’s first gig as a caddie.

“I play a lot of golf with Jonathan; that’s how we met,” Ernst said. “Then my wife (Amy) and Jon’s wife (Janell) became friends. I don’t play nearly in his league. But we have a good time.”

“I wouldn’t have wanted anybody else,” Bartlett said. “We had a good time. I figure it was a chance for us to do something new together. I had never played in a PGA event and he had never caddied.”

Ernst said he didn’t care that he wouldn’t make any cash from his three days on the bag.

“I’m for free,” Ernst joked. “But that’s OK, I had a great time and I appreciate Jonathan giving me the opportunity.”

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DA’SEAN TAKES IN SOME GOLF: Two of the most prolific scorers in WVU basketball history, Jerry West and Da’Sean Butler sat together Saturday in Jim Justice’s box overlooking the 18th green.

They are two of the school’s three 2,000-point scorers.

“I’m doing all right, just living the dream,” said Butler, drafted by the LeBron James-Chris Bosh-Dwyane Wade-led Miami Heat in the NBA Draft back in June.

Butler said he couldn’t talk Saturday but was hoping to do interviews today.

He was still on crutches from his knee injury suffered against Duke in the Final Four in April.

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PLANTING THE SEED: Justin Leonard said he believes the Classic will grow.

“I think word of mouth is going to spread on how great the golf course is and what a fun place this is to be for families and everything,” said Leonard, who carded a 5-under 65 Saturday. “Being kind of close to when school starts back, I think word of mouth will spread, and you’ll see a lot of guys coming back here next year.”

Leonard said he has only left the grounds once.

“And that was to the family barbecue right across the street,” he said. “So we’re having a great time. I think the guys are enjoying the golf course. All the things that are here to do for the families. We’ve been really received by everybody. So it’s been a great week.”

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HEY, BOO BOO: Boo Weekley, who got his nickname from Yogi Bear’s sidekick from the old cartoon, admitted he was a little nervous.

“It’s been a while since I was in this position,” said Weekley, who had a 3-under 67 and is in third place, five shots off the pace. “I admit, I was just nervous. Once I settled down, I started hitting a couple better shots. The putter, for whatever reason, didn’t want to fall today. I putted the ball well. Just in and out.”

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TRIBUTE TO TIGER: Like many golfers, Classic leader Jeff Overton admitted that the greens were a little beaten by the time he got to them Saturday afternoon.

“That’s what I think is amazing about Tiger (Woods),” Overton said. “Some of those stressors he’s had with all those wins. He’s playing in the final group and with these bumpy greens, and he’s just pulling in from everywhere. It doesn’t faze him. That’s what we’ve got to get to.”

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HOLMES OF THE U.S. OPEN: J.B. Holmes spoke on the possibility of bringing the U.S Open to The Greenbrier.

“They would have to lengthen it a whole lot,” he said. It would be tough, at 7,000 (yards); it would be tough to have a U.S. Open here. But they could definitely tighten up the fairways and make this more difficult. But, I mean, it’s possible but they would have to make a lot of changes.”