LANSING, July 2, 2002 – B. Pettigrew’s wife was correct when she told him they had won a Mega Millions prize, but she had no idea how big that prize was! The lucky Leonard man matched the first five numbers drawn in the June 28 Mega Millions drawing to win a $175,000 prize! The winning numbers for the June 28 drawing were: 18, 31, 49, 50, 51 and the Gold Mega Ball number was 4.

The winning "easy pick" Mega Millions ticket was purchased at Meijer #57, 3175 S. Rochester Road, in Rochester Hills.

"My wife looked up the winning numbers in the newspaper and compared them to tickets she had purchased," Pettigrew said. "She said to me, ‘We won the Lottery,’ but she was joking about a $2 prize on one of her tickets. When I checked the tickets I had purchased, I told that we really had won the Lottery!"

Pettigrew, a faithful Michigan Lottery player for the past 29 years, said he has no immediate plans for his winnings, but there is no doubt he and his wife will enjoy their newfound wealth!.

The lucky lady offered some words of encouragement to other Lottery players. "Winning really does happen, you just have to play to win!"

The last Big Game drawing took place on Tuesday, May 14. On Wednesday, May 15, The Big Game was replaced by Mega Millions. Mega Millions is a multistate lottery game in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Virginia. Wagers cost $1 each and tickets may be purchased at more than 7,000 Michigan Lottery retailers statewide.

Mega Millions drawings are conducted every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next Mega Millions drawing is tonight, Tuesday, July 2, with an estimated jackpot of $83 million. For more information about Mega Millions, visit the Michigan Lottery’s Web site, www.michigan.gov/lottery.

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