GLUCKSTADT – The 2014 Bishop’s Cup golf tournament attracted more than 80 golfers to sunny Lake Caroline Golf Course in Madison County. The tournament helps fund the Catholic Foundation of the diocese.
Father Patrick Noonan looks over items in the silent auction at the dinner following the Bishop’s Cup golf tournament.
Teams from parishes vie for the Bishop’s Cup trophy each year. St. Paul Parish in Flowood captured the trophy this year in the new “scramble” format instead of individual stroke play, which had been used in previous tournaments.
St. Paul had four parish teams competing in the tournament. Twelve other parishes had at least one team vying for the trophy and bragging rights for the year. With a scramble score of 55, St. Paul parishioners Dave Clements, Michael Kimbrell, Sean Oakley and Will White made up the winning foursome. Bishop Joseph Kopacz presented them with the trophy at the tournament banquet. St. Dominic Health Services’ team had the second lowest score with a 57.
Other golfers came from Greenwood, the defending champions; Brookhaven, Clinton, Jackson, Leland, Madison Natchez and Vicksburg. For the third year, St. Aloysius High School in Vicksburg has sent members of their golf team to play.
Bishop Kopacz tested his golfing skills along with several other members of the clergy. One foursome even included Father John Kuntz, a priest visiting from Minnesota. Father Charles Loyacono represented the Delta clergy, and Nick Adam represented the diocesan seminarians.
Bishop Joseph Kopacz shares some closing remarks with the banquet attendees following the golf tournament. (Photos by Mary Woodward)
For many years the tournament was held at Colonial Country Club in Jackson, but Colonial closed this past year. Foundation golf committee members, led by chairperson, Steve Carmody, settled on Lake Caroline because of its links-style natural features and the close proximity of the Mermaid Restaurant, which hosted the tournament banquet.
Despite the course club house burning to the ground last spring, the tournament went on with great spirit, sport and camaraderie among the golfers. The day was on the cool side with a strong breeze, but the sun shone down upon the links providing some warmth as the day went on.
At the evening banquet golf prizes were awarded and attendees were able to bid on artwork, vacation packages, and various other objet d’art. More than 100 attended the evening festivities.
According to Rebecca Harris, executive director of the Foundation, this year’s tournament saw an increase in sponsors and golfers from last year. “The new ‘scramble’ format and venue provided a lot of excitement. We certainly appreciate all of our sponsors, players and vendors who helped make this year’s tournament such a success,” Harris remarked.
This year’s sponsors were: Acme Printing Co.; Bank Plus; Benchmark Construction Corp.; Brunini, Grantham, Grower and Hewes, PLLC.; Capital Glass Company, Inc.; Citizens National Bank; Coker & Palmer, Inc.; D2; Earle and Irene Jones, Ergon; Home-Land Title Real Estate Service; Insurance & Risk Managers; Insurance Consulting GroupKim and Gary Taylor; Lefoldt and Associates; Mike and Diane Pumphrey; Nucor Steel Jackson, Inc.; Old River Companies, Inc.; Raymond James; Rusty’s Boat; Southland Management; St. Dominic Health Services, and Tico’s.