LANSING, October 6, 1999 — Patrick Haggerty of Dearborn said it was "the luck of the Irish" that helped him win a top prize in the Michigan Lottery’s Big Game! Haggerty matched the first five numbers in the August 10 Big Game drawing to win the $150,000 prize. That day’s winning numbers were: 13, 27, 32, 43, 50 and the Big Money Ball number was 2.

"I was at my sister-in-law’s house when I remembered that I needed to check my Big Game ticket," Haggerty said. "I asked her to check it for me and she told me I had matched five numbers. I called my wife immediately to tell her we won! She was a nervous wreck!"

The retiree from the Automobile Association of America (AAA) said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 27 years, and his favorites are Michigan Lotto and The Big Game. Haggerty purchased the winning Big Game "easy pick" ticket at Mikey’s Gas & Mini Mart, 22600 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn. The 68-year-old winner said he plans to use part of his winnings to take a vacation to Florida.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, the avid outdoorsman and World War II aviation buff said he hid it in a couple different places.

"First I put it in the cookie jar," he said. "Then, I decided it would be safer in the closet!"

The Big Game is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 6,400 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Big Game drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Big Game drawing is Friday, October 8, with an expected jackpot of $12 million.

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