RALEIGH – Tracy Sheils of Lillington plans to use the $235,541 prize he won playing Carolina Cash 5 to save for the future. His Quick Pick ticket was one of two that matched all five numbers in the March 13 drawing to win half of the $471,082 jackpot.

Sheils was at home on Friday morning when he learned of his big win.

“My wife checked the ticket and told me we won something,” Sheils said. “It really is hard to believe. We checked and double-checked the numbers on the phone, the TV and the computer. Then we triple-checked.”

After state and federal taxes were withheld, Sheils received a check for $162,994. He purchased the lucky ticket at Kim’s Tobacco on Bonanza Drive in Fayetteville.

As of Monday afternoon, the second half of the March 13 jackpot has not been claimed. The winning ticket was sold at the Petro Express on Clanton Street in Charlotte.

Ticket sales have made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $3.19 billion for education programs statewide. For details on how more than $34.3 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Harnett County, click on the “Where the Money Goes” tab on the lottery’s website.