DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Fla. – Cornhole may be a backyard pastime for many, but for 22-year-old Ethan Walker, it is a professional sport — and one he is playing at one of the highest levels in the country.
Walker, who lives in Daytona Beach Shores, is ranked fifth nationally and recently defeated a former No. 1 player.
“I trust myself, and I knew I could beat him,” Walker said. “I beat him in the past, and I know I have that level. I let my practice and preparation speak for itself. I kept saying, ‘Just stay patient and trust your game,’ because I know I could do it, and I kind of let the game come to me.”
Walker started playing in local tournaments before realizing he could compete at a much higher level. He eventually turned professional, traveling across the country to play in tournaments and sharpen his game.
He said the professional version of cornhole is much different from the casual game many people play at cookouts and backyard gatherings.
“In professional cornhole, it’s 27 feet front to front,” Walker said. “In the backyard, everyone sets it up really close, so it makes it a lot easier. The game is completely different at the professional level. The bags are different, and it’s pretty serious.”
Walker said success in the sport takes far more than a good toss.
“It’s not as easy as everyone would think,” he said. “Lots of practice, hours and hours of traveling and playing tournaments all over the country to get to where I’m at.”
Now, Walker is encouraging others to give competitive cornhole a try. He said local events can be a good place for new players to see how they measure up.
“Give it a shot, ’cause why not?” Walker said. “Everyone loves to sit in the yard and maybe have a few beverages and throw some bags. Why not keep playing? Maybe you go to a local blind draw. I run some local blind around here in South Daytona. Just go to a local blind draw and see how you stack up.”
Walker plans to keep competing as he works to climb even higher in the national rankings.