LANSING, June 15, 2000 — Shock and amazement! That is what Gary Gerrans of Muskegon felt when he learned he had matched the first five numbers in the June 9 drawing to win the $150,000 Big Game prize! That day’s winning numbers were: 6, 7, 25, 34, 45 and the Big Money Ball number was 2.

"I saw the winning numbers in the Muskegon Chronicle," Gerrans said.  "I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, so I also got the winning numbers from the Internet and then I picked up a winning number report from a neighborhood store. I started shaking right away! I showed my wife the winning ticket when she got home from work — we were both shocked and surprised!"

The winner said he has been playing Michigan Lottery games for the past 15 years and his favorites are Michigan Lotto, Michigan Rolldown, the Daily 3 & 4 games and, of course, The Big Game! Gerrans purchased the winning Big Game ticket at Ettermans Super Market, 1991 Lakeshore Drive, in Muskegon.

Prior to turning the winning ticket in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing, Gerrans said he kept it in a lock box. The lucky man said he plans to use his winnings to purchase a new car and pay bills.

The winner encouraged other Lottery hopefuls to continue to buy tickets and "keep trying" to win!

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, June 16 with an expected jackpot of $7 million.

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