Anxious Player Waits Months to Claim $50,002 Lottery Prize

Wins big with Montgomery County Bonus Match 5 purchase

A 60-year-old Rockville man won the Maryland Lottery’s $50,000 Bonus Match 5 top prize on Aug. 22 but was so anxious about his win he waited nearly two months to claim his prize. He took home a total of $50,002 because he not only matched all five numbers on one line of his seven-draw ticket but also two of the five numbers on a second line.

“When I found out I won, I was so excited,” the player said. “I had to slow down that excitement to think rationally.” The restaurant employee finally relaxed enough about his win to cash the ticket he bought for $14 at the Kensington Pharmacy in Kensington.

The key to his Lottery success was buying three boards for seven consecutive draws Aug. 18-24. He picked the winning numbers of 2, 6, 7, 15 and 24 while the machine at the Montgomery County store picked the numbers on his $2 winning board.

The father of three said he favors the Lottery’s jackpot games over scratch-offs and plays Mega Millions, Powerball, Multi-Match and Bonus Match 5 weekly. “It’s just part of my routine,” he said. Just like always, the Montgomery County resident bought his ticket at the beginning of the week and checked for winners as the week concluded. This time, however, his routine came to halt when he checked the ticket. The message that appeared when the Bonus Match 5 ticket was scanned directed him to Lottery headquarters to claim a prize. He double-checked the ticket online and discovered, to his amazement, that he’d won the top prize of $50,000, plus $2.

The lucky man plans to pay bills with his winnings and help family members. After that, he said, he will put the remainder in a savings account and will continue to play Lottery games. He found his Lottery luck at Kensington Pharmacy located at 3737 University Boulevard West in Kensington, Maryland. For selling the top-prize ticket, the retailer received a $500 bonus from the Lottery.