Beanbags thud and slide against wooden cornhole boards. For about three hours, the sound has been nearly constant, throughout the inaugural Creative Cornhole Classic.
Some bags land dully, worth only one point, while others slide into the hole cut into the center of the board, scoring each team of players three points. Over time, the thuds come less and less frequently, as teams are eliminated from the tournament.
Coming into the final game of the championship, Brandon Bullock and Kenneth Gustine, assigned as teammates, stand across from each other. Bobby Mitch Jr. and Dennis Day are throwing against them. And Mitch Jr. and Day have already won the first of two games.
“It’s winner take all right here,” Bullock said.
The teams faced off Saturday during the Creative Cornhole Classic at the Courtyard by Marriott in Columbus. The new cornhole tournament, organized by Bullock and benefiting the Columbus Arts Council, drew about two dozen competitors in the adult category, and another 10 in the youth category.
Bullock started playing cornhole about 3 1/2 years ago, he said, starting out in a local league in Monroe, Louisiana. Even though he had only played cornhole as a backyard game at the time, he said the group took him in and became like a second family.
When Bullock moved to the area about two years ago, he knew he wanted something similar in the area. He started the Bully’s Bagz Cornhole league, based out of New Hope, which meets and plays at VFW Post 4272.
So when Quan Walker with the Columbus Arts Council wanted to put together a cornhole tournament fundraiser, she reached out to Bullock to ask for help with the logistics of the game.
“I just thought it was something you played in your backyard when you go to your friend’s house,” Walker said.
“I know cornhole is a growing sport now,” Walker added. “It’s our first (tournament). We’re going to do another one next year. And give the community something else to do.”
While the arts council arranged a space for the tournament and vendors to sell art and food during the event, along with sponsors, Bullock brought his know-how, scoring technology and cornhole skills to the event. Bullock also put out the message about the Creative Cornhole Classic to his fellow players, drawing cornhole lovers from all around the area.
Jennifer Lucas and Chris Sisson were two of the competitors in Saturday’s tournament. They have been playing for about four years, after buying a cheap board and bags for a Fourth of July party. They haven’t stopped playing since.
Lucas said she’s “addicted” to the game, and the pair has traveled to Columbus, Tuscaloosa, Amory and elsewhere, every time they “find somewhere to throw.”
“I’m very competitive,” Lucas said. “I enjoy the challenge and it’s so much fun. You meet so many people and make so many friends from everywhere.”
Winning time
The tournament started out with rounders, Bullock said, essentially as a warm-up for each player. After that, it went to a double elimination bracket, where teams played in a losers’ bracket after one loss, and were eliminated after a second loss.
The tournament followed rules set by the American Cornhole League, Bullock said.
“We don’t play any backyard bust rules,” Bullock said. “We play it the professional way. A lot of people think it’s 21 (points to win), and if you get 22 or 23, you go back to 15. We don’t do any of that. It’s first one to 21. Boards are 27 feet apart, front of board to front of board. It’s a little more difficult than people actually think.”
As the adult bracket carried on, the youth bracket wrapped up, with third place going to Gunnar Bullock and Kyle Gustine, second place going to Nolan Bullock and Hayden Bullock and first place going to Holden Day and Brody Snider.
In the final game of the adult bracket, with a $1,000 pot on the line, Mitch and Day seem like they are going to go down without a fight, as Bullock and Gustine surge up to 13 points with no answer from them. But the tides turn quickly once Mitch and Day gain momentum.
Soon, they have the score tied up at 15-15, and then, with a misplaced throw from Bullock pushing one of their bags into the hole, Mitch and Day are up 20-15.
By the time Bullock steps back up to the boards, Gustine has gained four more points, leaving victory within one throw for either team. And unfortunately for Bullock and Gustine, Mitch and Day seem to be sinking throws left and right, while Bullock has only landed bags near the hole.
Pushing down nerves as all eyes are on him, Bullock releases his final beanbag, which also pushes two bags over the edge, all three sinking into the hole. One throw pushes the pair over the 21 point mark and brings them to victory.
“Luckily I had a great partner and a great player,” Gustine said of the victory. “We faced some other fantastic players.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
