LANSING, May 7, 2001 – Charles Phillips of Allen Park was shocked when he learned he had matched the first five numbers in the May 1 Big Game drawing to win a $150,000 prize! That day’s winning numbers were: 4, 13, 15, 16, 25, and the Big Money Ball number was 19.

Phillips, 50, purchased the winning Big Game ticket at Amys Liquor Shop, 19224 Carlysle St., in Dearborn.

“I checked the winning numbers on the Lottery’s Web site (www.state.mi.us/milottery) the day after the drawing,” the winner said. “I was at work, so I called my partner over to double-check the numbers. I said, ‘Look! They’re all right there!’ I couldn’t believe it!”

The lucky man, who works as a technologist for Ford Motor Company, said he kept the winning Big Game “easy-pick” ticket with him at all times prior to turning it in at Lottery headquarters in Lansing.

Phillips, who enjoys camping and riding motorcycles in his spare time, said he plans to use part of his winnings to take a vacation and make home improvements. He added that he would invest the rest.

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 tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 8, with an expected jackpot of $5 million.

###