LANSING, July 15, 1997 – For the members of a Fenton lottery club, July 4 will be remembered as Independence Day and payday – the day the club won $150,000 in The Big Game!

The "Almost Winners" lottery club matched the first five Big Game numbers drawn Friday, July 4, to win the $150,000 prize.  That day's winning numbers were: 8, 12, 21, 32, 50, and the Big Money Ball number was 17.

"I found out we were winners when I opened the paper Saturday morning," said club representative Dale Rudolph.  "I was on vacation when I saw the paper, and I knew those were the numbers on our ticket.  No one else in the club knew until Monday at work when I called in. They were in shock!"

All five club members are employed at Fenton-based Excel Corporation.  They've played Lottery games as a club for the past six months.

Club members, who range in age from 40 to 56, have different plans for their share of The Big Game winnings, including: buying new cars and campers, paying for a daughter's wedding, and taking vacations.

The members of the "Almost Winners" lottery club are:

• William E. Raleigh of Holly
• Alan L. Morea of Fenton
• Ronald G. Laferney of Holly
• Richard M. Clees of Royal Oak
• Dale C. Rudolph of Grand Blanc

The club's winning "easy pick" ticket was purchased at VG's Food Center, 18005 Silver Parkway, in Fenton.

Friday's (July 18) Big Game jackpot is estimated at $20 million.

The Big Game offers nine ways to win cash prizes.  Players pay $1 for each play, and choose five numbers from 1 to 50, as well as one additional number from 1 to 25.