A decision to scratch instead of match numbers turned into a $1 million lottery win for Clifford Owle Jr. of Murphy.

Owle normally plays lottery draw games, but on Monday morning he took a chance and bought a 10th Anniversary Millions scratch-off ticket.

“I found some extra money I didn’t know I had,” Owle said. “So I thought, ‘Well, I’ll just take a chance.’”

That chance paid off when he won $1 million.

“I had to look at the ticket several times,” Owle said. “After reading it over and over again, I realized it was a winner.”

He claimed his prize Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. Owle had the choice of taking a $1 million annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum and after federal and state tax withholdings received $415,503. He plans to invest the money.

Owle bought the $10 ticket at the Big D on Hill Street in Murphy.

10th Anniversary Millions launched in April with four $1 million top prizes. One top prize remains.

Ticket sales from games like 10th Anniversary Millions made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million dollars for the state last year. For details on how more than $9.7 million in lottery funds has made a difference in Cherokee County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.