After a trial run in 2024 of the Foursome (Clinger, Lindley, Paniati, Rupert) playing all the 18-hole golf courses of Montgomery County Golf, we set out to play the inaugural Montgomery County Open - or MoCo Open - in 2025. Finding dates when all four were available resulted in the MoCo Open taking place from June 3 through August 7. The order of play for the courses was Needwood (par 70), Laytonsville (71), Northwest (72), Crossvines (71), Hampshire Greens (72), Little Bennett (72), Falls Road (70) and Rattlewood (72). 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.

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

1. Jeff Paniati: 57, 58, 58, 61, 72, 68, 57, 65; total 496 (-74); points 2, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5, 2.5, 6.5 = 29

2. Bob Rupert: 60, 58, 66, 71, 81, 66, 63, 62; total 527 (-43); points 4, 2, 6, 6.5, 5, 4, 5.5, 3 = 36

3. Steve Clinger: 69, 76, 61, 69, 74, 73, 59, 62; total 543 (-27); points 7, 7, 5, 4, 5, 6, 4, 5 = 43

4. Jeff Lindley: 70, 77, 66, 78, 78, 68, 68, 64; total 569 (-1); points 7, 7, 6, 7.5, 6, 5, 8, 5.5 = 52

Congratulations to Jeff Paniati, winner of the inaugural MoCo Open! (Still scheduling his speaking appearances on the golf media circuit.)

Notes:

• All players finished under par ...barely

• There were 6 (net) rounds in the 50s; four by Jeff Paniati

• There were only 7 rounds over par; none by Jeff Paniati

• Standings did not change after the third course

• The hardest course was Hampshire Greens with no scores under par and group total of +17

• The easiest course was Northwest with all under par and group total of -37

• Each player had at least one birdie.

Looking forward to Jeff's defense of his title in 2026.