Tag Archives: 2014 Bishop’s Cup

Golfers turn out for Catholic Foundation

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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.

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)

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.

Bishop’s cup sports new format

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091914bishopcuplogoJACKSON – The 2014 Bishop’s Cup will feature a new scoring format for golfers and a new location. The tournament, sponsored by the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson, was held for the past several years at Colonial Country Club in Jackson. This past spring Colonial closed so tournament organizers looked for a new location.
The newly refurbished Lake Caroline Golf Course in Madison will be the new site and with the new location comes the new format of a “scramble” instead of individual stroke play when the tournament kicks off Thursday, Nov. 6. Previously golfers played their own ball the entire 18 holes and the four lowest scores from parish players would be tallied. The parish with the four lowest scores would win the Bishop’s Cup and take home the trophy until the next year.
Now golfers will be put in foursomes representing one parish and will scramble for the trophy. A scramble is basically playing from the best shot. All four players tee off. The team then chooses the best tee shot and then all play the next shot from that spot. This cycle occurs until the ball is putted into the hole.
The scramble format is faster than stroke play and is more relaxing to play because one depends on teammates to help get the best result.
Parishes can field more than one team. Individual golfers are welcome to play and will be placed in a foursome. That team will have to declare a parish prior to teeing off or they can just enjoy a day of golf without competing. Either way they will be raising funds     for the Catholic Foundation, which supports necessary projects of diocesan parishes, missions and schools through grants.
“We are very excited about the new format and location,” said Rebecca Harris, executive director of the Catholic Foundation. “Golfers will experience a great day being on the links and raising funds to help many of our parishes and missions,” Harris added.
The day concludes with a silent auction and dinner at the Mermaid Restaurant, which is just down the road from the course.
Bishop Joseph Brunini and 23 visionary Catholic leaders from throughout the Diocese of Jackson established the Catholic Foundation in 1973. Their enthusiasm was focused on creating a way to encourage and assist the people of the diocese to provide for the future financial security of their parishes, schools, and other organizations under the auspices of the diocese.
Since then, the Foundation has grown both monetarily and in the number of endowments under its management. In 1973, the managed assets were $173,691 with four endowments, and by 1992 assets were $2,463,356 with 115 endowments.
Today, the Catholic Foundation manages 390 trust funds and insurance policies with more than $20 million in assets. Most parishes and schools in the diocese now have at least one trust to provide for future financial stability. For more information or to sign up for the tournament contact Harris at (601) 969-1880.