By MARGARET THOMPSON
Tribune Chronicle
WARREN - Winning hundreds of dollars could be as easy - or difficult - as a toss of a cornhole bag at the Tribune Chronicle's Make A Difference Day Cornhole Tournament.
The tournament begins at 9 a.m. Saturday on Courthouse Square in downtown Warren. A section of Mahoning Avenue will be blocked off to create a level playing surface. Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday in the Log Cabin across from the courthouse.
Customized cornhole boards have been sponsored by various local companies. But as Sue Shafer of the Tribune Chronicle explains, ''Not all of the companies are able to send over representatives to play because they are working at the time of the tournament.''
This is where community members come into play. They can bypass the entry fee by playing on one of the sponsored boards in the doubles tournament, with the opportunity to split their prize down the middle with the Hope Chest Foundation, a program that works with various local agencies to help area families in need.
"In other words, someone has already donated the fee to play and players can play for free," said Shafer, "There are still sponsored teams that need players."
If players do choose to pay the $50 entry fee for the doubles tournament and win, the entire $1,000 prize will be theirs.
"Just by playing, they'll be helping needy families in the area through the Hope Chest Foundation, in addition to the chance to win the grand prize of $1,000,'' tournament director Ted Snyder said.
Along with the $1,000 grand prize, $500 is being offered for second place, $300 for third place and $200 for fourth.
The tournament's allure is drawing one of cornhole's more famous players to Warren. Matt Guy of Alexandria, Ky., a four-time winner of the American Cornhole Organization's King of Cornhole title and the current points leader, has given his verbal commitment to take part in this year's event. Gary Lewis, a former Make A Difference Day Cornhole Tournament Champion, is also eyeing the prize.
But neither duo should start counting their corn kernels yet.
If doubles aren't your fancy, other tournaments are also being held. The women's singles event asks a $20 entry fee per player and promises a 50 percent pay back in prize money. The competitive singles tournament requires a $50 entry fee and also offers a 50 percent payback in prize money.
There is also a long-toss event. Contestants pay $5 for three cornhole bags, and the prize will go to the person who makes the longest throw into the hole. That event also will offer a 50 percent payout.
As many as 128 two-person teams may register for the tournament. All proceeds go to the Hope Chest Foundation.
For more information, visit www.tribtoday.com/ and click on the Make A Difference Day link to print out a tournament registration form.