MADISON  — Teams from across the diocese came to help raise money for the Bishop William R. Houck Memorial Trust at the 34th annual Bishop’s Cup golf tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Lake Caroline Golf Club.
Proceeds were put into a newly created trust this year. The Bishop Houck Memorial Trust, founded by the Bishop’s Cup committee in memory of the late Bishop William Houck, will fund projects proposed by parishes, schools and organizations from around the diocese.  “Bishop Houck believed in helping others and he would be excited to know that many projects will be supported each year with this grant”, said Rebecca Harris, Executive Director of The Catholic Foundation.
Through the years Bishop Houck was an avid advocate for the Catholic Foundation.  “He was a lifetime member of the Foundation, always making sure he was the first to give to the membership drive and always recruiting others to be members. He diligently worked with people from around the diocese on the importance of starting a trust in their name that would benefit either their parish, Catholic Schools or Catholic Charities. He was not a golfer, however, each year he came to the Bishop’s Cup dinner to show his support,” added Harris.
Each year there is a $10,000 prize on offer to anyone who can hit a hole in one on one particular hole. This year, Tico Hoffman teed up and did just that on the 17th hole of the course.  Hoffman, owner of Tico’s Steakhouse in Ridgeland, didn’t even realize he had won the prize after he hit the ball.
“When he came up to the green, he was looking for his ball,” said Chris Luke, Bishop’s Cup committee member. “I had to tell him that his ball went into the hole. Tico and his team – Father Gerry Hurley, Father Patrick Noonan and Joe Beal – began to celebrate,” said Luke. The committee was excited to award this prize for the first time in the history of the tournament. This year each golfer received a stainless tumbler donated by Citizens National Bank, “we thank Citizens National Bank for being our lead sponsor this year. We appreciated all of their help as well as all of our sponsors, said Harris.
After a day of golf, everyone went to The Mermaid Café to enjoy the silent and live auction, dinner and golf prizes.  First place went to Joel Ross, Brad Riles, Austin Brown and Mike Brown, who represented the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle team sponsored by Bank Plus, second place went to Flowood St. Paul, sponsored by Bank First, and third place went to Flowood St. Paul, sponsored by Tico Hoffman.
The golf committee extended an invitation to the 35th annual Bishop’s Cup on September 14, 2017, at Lake Caroline. “We would love to see every parish represented next year, and we hope to see another hole in one prize awarded,” said Harris. “If you would like to be part of our golf committee we are always looking for dedicated volunteers to help with sponsors, gather auction items, and work the day of the tournament,” she added.  Interested golfers and volunteers please call Rebecca Harris at 601-960-8477.