GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Greensboro residents Mark Cockman, Jeffrey Jaeger and Gary Selders play the lottery together and won a $158,535 jackpot Wednesday, according to an NC Education Lottery news release.
“We all looked at one another thinking, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’” Cockman said.
Jaeger said he enjoys the group dynamic of playing the lottery.
“Playing with other people just makes it more fun,” Jaeger said. “It’s like camaraderie.”
The three friends met each other years ago at the Greensboro Elks Lodge on West Cornwallis Drive in Greensboro where they are all members. They were at the lodge when they bought the winning $5 20X The Cash ticket.
“We each put a little bit in,” Jaeger said. “I don’t think any of us believed it when we won.”
At the time of their purchase, the jackpot stood at $317,070. Since they bought a $5 ticket, they got 50% of the progressive jackpot.