In the Bag with Cornhole Pro Rosie Streker

If you’ve caught a glimpse of a cornhole tournament on ESPN or CBS Sports, your eyes aren’t fooling you. The classic backyard game is having a moment—and some say it’s becoming the great equalizer among professional sports. “Cornhole is a really level playing field because it’s just throwing a 1-pound bag 30 feet,” says Palm Beach Gardens resident Rosie Streker , 43, who is one of 32 professional female cornhole players in the country. “Girls can play just as well as the guys, and it’s also one of the few sports where the payout for women is equal to the men.”

The American Cornhole League, which governs pro cornhole, is currently in its seventh season. The 2024 season began with a national tournament in West Palm Beach in April and concludes August 2-11 at the World Championships in South Carolina. “For a few years, we were the fastest-growing sport in the county, before pickleball took over the lead,” says Streker, who recalls tossing her very first bag at Stadium Grill (when it was JJ Muggs) in Abacoa. The game would introduce Streker to new friends—and her husband, Davis Streker, a former professional cornholer himself, who encouraged her to try regional and then statewide tournaments.

Streker taught elementary school locally for 15 years, leaving her day job in 2022 to focus on the sport. She turned pro six years ago, and now—with regional, national, and world titles under her belt—she loves helping other players improve their game.

“When I’m at events with newer players, I walk around and observe as people warm up,” she says, admitting she can’t help doling out tips on how to handle the bags or improve aim. She and her husband are encouraging local high schools to create cornhole clubs, and Streker notes that the first scholarships were offered to collegiate players last year.

As for her own game, Streker has lofty goals. “I was the number-three lady last year
and the year prior,” she says. “I’m working hard to be number one.”

The Perfect Toss

Up your backyard game with these pro tips from Rosie

• Use four fingers to support the bag and secure with your thumb on the opposite side of the bag.

• Gently pinch the bag with your thumb; don’t ball it up.

• Your fingers should point where you want the bag to land; palm faces up when you release.

• Step forward to gain momentum or stand stationary at the end of the board; don’t step beyond the end of the board and avoid skyrocketing the bag.

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