State cornhole competition held
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on June 26, 2016 1:45 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Bobby Morris, left, of Smithfield, and Coby McIver of Holly Springs watch one of the games during Saturday's state championship cornhole tournament at the W.A. Foster Center. They were to have played for the state doubles title late Saturday.
Some of the best cornhole players in the nation were among the more than 100 competitors who were in Goldsboro Friday night and most of Saturday vying for the North Carolina state single and double cornhole championship titles.
The American Cornhole Organization's third annual state tournament was played in the gymnasium at the newly opened W.A. Foster Center, 1012 S. John St.
A new event -- the Rosemann Cup -- was held in recognition of Betsy Rosemann, Goldsboro's former travel and tourism director. Mrs. Rosemann, a pivotal force in bringing the state championships to Goldsboro, died unexpectedly in May.
"Betsy Rosemann was really the key to bringing the event to Goldsboro," said Frank Geers, president of the Ohio-based American Cornhole Organization. "We love Goldsboro. We feel very fortunate to host the tournament in the city. Our plan is to keep it there for years to come."
The Rosemann Cup is reserved for some of the state's top cornhole players, Geers said.
"We've got 200 players in North Carolina," Geers said. "We're expecting somewhere from 90 to 120 players to attend the event.
"North Carolina is a mecca for cornhole and ACO players. There will be some of the best players who will be there in North Carolina. Three of the top 10 players in the land are from North Carolina."
The event started Friday at 4 p.m. and continued until almost midnight.
Saturday events, which include championship games, started at 8 a.m. and continued until nearly 11 p.m.
The $30 entry fee included a minimum of two games each in the single and double competitions.
"It's open to everybody," Geers said. "As long as they can throw a bag, they can be out there."
Two of the top ACO players, Frank Modlin, of Jamesville, and Jamie Graham, of Hamlet, currently tied for first place worldwide, were at the event.
The two-day competition in Goldsboro provided all players the ability to compete for the North Carolina championship title, which includes a winner in the single competition and two winners in the double competition.
Competitions included junior, women and senior single cornhole games.
The championship single and double games were played Saturday, as well as a variety of other competitions, including smaller $5 luck-of-the-draw games that pair up competitors into double teams.
There were plenty of opportunities for anyone, including amateurs, to play, Geers said.
In addition to claiming the state champion titles, single and double winners received a cash prize, jersey and plaque.
The North Carolina competitions do not qualify winners to compete in the world games, which have already taken place, Geers said.
The North Carolina State Championships of Cornhole event was hosted by the Goldsboro Parks and Recreation and Travel and Tourism departments.
Food and beverage sales, including canned beer, were available at the event.
"There will be 20 games going on at one time," said Scott Barnard, Goldsboro parks and recreation director.
The direct economic impact of 120 visitors for the two-day tournament is estimated at more than $42,000 in the city, Barnard said.