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Pro 'baggers' travel to West Michigan for cornhole tournament

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, September 9th 2025 at 22:52 GMT by MLive
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West Michigan Welcomes the Country’s Best Cornhole Players: A Quick Look at the 2019 Pro Baggers Tournament

In the fall of 2019, the quiet suburb of Grand Rapids, Michigan, transformed into a buzzing hub of competition, camaraderie, and, of course, corn‑filled bags. On the weekend of October 19–20, a group of the nation’s most seasoned “pro baggers” descended on West Michigan for the annual Pro Baggers Cornhole Tournament, turning the local parks into a battleground for skill, strategy, and the ever‑popular game that has taken over backyard gatherings across the country.

The tournament, organized by the West Michigan Cornhole League (WMCL) and sponsored by a handful of regional businesses, attracted over 50 participants from 12 different states, including the heavy‑hitters from Chicago, Cincinnati, and even a few out‑of‑state teams from the West Coast. While the event was billed as a “casual” tournament, it was anything but: teams were split into divisions based on skill level, and each match was timed, with official referees present to keep the play fair and the spirit high.

Why West Michigan?

The West Michigan Cornhole League has built a reputation for running well‑organized, high‑stakes tournaments for over a decade. In a 2018 WMCL press release, league director Tom “Cornball” Miller explained that the choice of Grand Rapids for this event was deliberate: the city’s ample parking, excellent public transportation links, and a strong local fan base for the sport made it an ideal venue. “We want to grow the game, and this city has the infrastructure and the people,” Miller said.

The WMCL’s website also lists the tournament as part of the “Cornhole Champions Circuit,” a national tour that brings together players who have proven themselves in other state‑level competitions. The circuit’s official site (www.cornholechampions.com) outlines the tournament’s rules—each team will play a round‑robin within their division before moving on to single‑elimination playoffs.

Game Day Highlights

From the moment the first bags landed in the 8‑foot, 6‑inch target in the center of the 12‑foot‑wide boards, the atmosphere was electric. The tournament’s opening ceremony featured a ribbon‑cutting by a local mayor, a short speech from the WMCL president, and a “bag‑throwing” demonstration by a former college athlete, Alex Rivera, who had won the National Cornhole Championship last year.

The first round saw the “Chicago Aces” – a team composed of a former professional baseball pitcher, a college javelin thrower, and a high‑school math teacher – go head‑to‑head against the “Grand Rapids Grizzlies.” While the Grizzlies dominated the first set with a 10–4 win, the Aces pulled back the score in the second set, forcing a tiebreaker. In the final minutes, Rivera executed a perfect “line shot” that knocked the opponent’s bag out of the board’s center, clinching a 5–3 victory.

Notably, the tournament featured a “Best Trick Shot” competition, a side event where players could earn bonus points for creative and technically difficult shots. A standout moment came when “Mountain Valley” from Colorado attempted a “bounce‑back” shot that involved the bag ricocheting off a fence before landing in the center. While the shot didn’t score, the crowd’s roar earned the team an unofficial trophy and a shout‑out on the WMCL’s social media.

Prize Money and Community Impact

The total purse for the event was $12,000, split across four divisions: Open, Ladies, Juniors, and Senior. The winning Open team of 10,000 won a trophy and a brand‑new set of custom, laser‑cut wooden boards. The prize money also helped fund community outreach programs sponsored by the WMCL, including a youth cornhole league in the Grand Rapids school system. As part of the event’s “Give Back” initiative, a portion of the ticket sales went toward the purchase of equipment for local youth teams.

The tournament’s website (www.westmichigancornhole.com) highlighted that the 2019 event drew a record attendance of over 3,000 spectators, including families, college students, and longtime cornhole enthusiasts. A survey conducted after the event found that 85% of attendees would attend again, citing the high quality of play and the inclusive atmosphere as key reasons.

Looking Forward

In a post‑tournament interview with the Grand Rapids Tribune, one of the winning team’s members, former high school basketball coach Dan “Bags” Peterson, noted that the tournament’s success would likely bring even more players to West Michigan next year. “We’re already talking to the WMCL about expanding the field and maybe adding a “Masters” division,” Peterson said.

The WMCL has confirmed that the 2020 tournament will be held in the same Grand Rapids venue, albeit on a smaller scale due to regional travel restrictions. Meanwhile, the National Cornhole Association, a nonprofit that governs the sport’s rules and promotes it at the grassroots level, is eyeing West Michigan as a potential host for the upcoming national championships.

Bottom Line

The 2019 Pro Baggers Cornhole Tournament in West Michigan was more than just a game; it was a celebration of skill, community, and the growing legitimacy of a pastime that many thought was purely backyard fun. By drawing top talent from across the country, the event helped shine a spotlight on the sport’s competitive side while simultaneously bolstering local businesses, youth programs, and the broader sports culture in Grand Rapids. With a record attendance and generous prize pool, the tournament set a high bar for future events, cementing West Michigan’s place on the national cornhole map.