Golfing buddies overcome million-to-one odds to win lottery jackpot, SC officials say
Three golfing buddies did something less likely than if each had hit a hole-in-one.
The Midlands men overcame longer odds when they bought a $200,000-winning ticket, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said in a news release.
The chances of hitting a hole-in-one during a round of golf are 12,500-to-1, according to American Hole ‘n One.
The odds of winning the top prize in the Palmetto Cash 5 game are 1-in-1,003,884, S.C. Lottery officials said.
When the winning numbers 23, 26, 31, 35, and 38 were drawn Feb. 4, the Kershaw County men hit the $100,000 jackpot, according to the release. Because they spent an extra $1 on the “Power-Up” option, their prize was doubled when a 2 was drawn, S.C. Lottery officials said.
The men were not publicly identified because South Carolina is one of just a few states — along with Delaware, Kansas, Georgia, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas — that allows lottery winners to remain anonymous.
The men did not say what they plan to do with their windfall, but it’s common practice for a golfer who hits an ace to buy a round of drinks.
The winning ticket was sold at Gate Petroleum Co. #325 in Camden, and the gas station/convenience store will receive a $2,000 commission, according to the release.
This was the third six-digit winning Palmetto Cash 5 ticket sold in the Midlands in the past three weeks. A pair of $100,000-winning tickets were sold in Newberry.
