Phillip Werling of Wake Forest kept his sense of humor after winning a $100,000 Ruby Red 7’s prize, saying the first thing he planned on doing is going to, “splurge for a Happy Meal.”

Werling purchased his lucky $20 ticket from the Food Lion on U.S. Highway 1 North in Youngsville.

He took his ticket back home where he scratched it. “Oh, I was excited,” said Werling. “I don’t think it’s truly sunk in yet.”

Werling claimed his prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After federal and state tax withholdings he took home $70,756.

Ruby Red 7’s launched in January with four top prizes of $4 million and eight prizes of $100,000. Two top prizes and four $100,000 prizes remain to be won.

Ticket sales from scratch-offs like Ruby Red 7s make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $700 million per year for education. For details on how $62.6 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Wake County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.