After the success of the inaugural Montgomery County Open - or MoCo Open - in 2025 crowning Jeff Paniati as Champion, the Foursome (Clinger, Lindley, Paniati, Rupert) again played all the 18-hole golf courses of Montgomery County Golf. Finding dates when all four were available resulted in the Second MoCo Open taking place from June 2 through August 14. The order of play for the courses was Crossvines (Par 71), Northwest (72), Rattlewood (72), Needwood (70), Laytonsville (back nine, 35), Hampshire Greens (72), Laytonsville (front nine, 36), Little Bennett (72), and Falls Road (70). Total par for the 8 courses is 570.

Following the model from the Swamp Guinea Open, the competition consisted of 9-hole rounds (hence 2 rounds per course) with points awarded based on net score position: 1 point for first, 2 points for second, 3 points for third, 4 points for fourth. Ten points per round, 20 points per course, 8 courses, = total of 160 points. Low Point total wins.

Congratulations to Jeff Lindley, who assumed the lead after the fifth round (first nine at Rattlewood) and held off a charging Jeff Paniati to win the Second MoCo Open by 1.5 points!

The final standings and net scores and daily standing points are:

1. Jeff Lindley: 68, 64, 65, 58, (32), 71, (33), 75, 72; total 538 (-32); points 4, 4.5, 3, 2.5, (1.5), 3.5, (2), 3, 4.5 = 28.5

2. Jeff Paniati: 64, 64, 63, 60, (32), 76, (30), 72, 63; total 524 (-46); points 3, 5, 4, 3.5, (1.5), 6, (1), 3.5, 2.5 = 30

3. Steve Clinger: 71, 62, 68, 75, (37), 68, (34), 78, 68; total 561 (-9); points 5, 3, 5, 8, (3.5), 3, (3), 5.5, 5 = 41

4. Bob Rupert: 89, 76, 89, 73, (37), 79, (39), 86, 94; total 662 (+92); points 8, 7.5, 8, 6, (3.5), 7.5, (4), 8, 8 = 60.5

Notes:

• Standings did not change after the third course

• The hardest course was Little Bennett with no scores under par and group total of +23

• The easiest course was Northwest with a group total of -22

Looking forward to the Third MoCo in summer 2027!