The SACA Inaugural

So since Christmas we've been playing quite a bit of the bean bag toss game. It's got another name, a more appropriate name since the bags aren't actually filled with beans, but with corn. So Cornhole it is.

Within the embassy community we now have three cornhole sets. And they are pretty much regulation according to the American Cornhole Association (ACA).

Yeah, seriously.

Anyway, our friend Jason and I decided it was time to organize a cornhole tournament. So on Saturday we co-hosted the First Annual Cornhole Tournament and Memorial Braai. Well, it's not likely to be an annual event (probably semi-annual or more, given the success of the day), and we weren't memorializing anything. But we needed an excuse to get together, drink beer and play cornhole.

So more than twenty of our closest friends and well-wishers gathered for the event.

We decided early on that, because we were not ACA members and the event would not be ACA sanctioned, we would create our own association. To heck with the ACA and their hidebound, stuffed-shirt cornhole players. So the Lusaka Cornhole Association became the Zambia Cornhole Association became the Southern Africa Cornhole Association (SACA) in no time at all. We are nothing if not empire builders.

We explained the rules to the gathered masses, then had everyone draw for teams. Note the kickin' birthday gift on my hip. I think there will be more people sporting the beer holster at our next SACA tourney. It was a coveted item.


Once teams were created, we were off. 11 teams, three courts, lots of beer.


Priscilla was, perhaps, the classiest player that day. Glass of Sauvignon Blanc in the left hand, heels, and a dead eye. She had the highest score in any one round, putting three bags in the hole and leaving the fourth on the board for a score of 10. Not bad.



Katherine trying to psyche her teammate up for a shot while Jeff looks on.


Like the Saturday Wide World of Sports of our younger days, the day had its share of the thrill of victory...





...and agony of defeat.



The tournament structure had to change slightly on the fly when people who had RSVP'd failed to show. I'm guessing a few cases of nerves caught up with people as the day of the big event neared. I mean, who wants to embarrass themselves at the SACA Inaugural?

But anyway, like the World Cup and Olympic hockey, we had a group round robin stage followed by a knock-out round.


When teams were chosen at random, we all said Pat and Dave were the team to beat. But no one did. They came away with the championship, going 5-0 on the day and taking home the grand prize of a "Veterans for McCain" t-shirt and a "Proud American" t-shirt.

They were justifiably proud of their victory.


Second SACA event is tentatively scheduled for August or September, so start looking into flights if you want in.