$200,000 lottery prize means trip to Italy and new SUV for Brunswick County retiree

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Dreams of a new SUV and a trip to Italy can come true now for Sandra Benotti of Brunswick County after winning a $200,000 scratch-off prize.

Benotti’s good luck came with a $5 Carolina Panthers ticket that she purchased from Doodles on Country Club Drive in Oak Island. A retired nurse, Benotti and her husband moved to Oak Island this year from Massachusetts.

“It certainly is a nice welcome,” Benotti said.

Benotti claimed her prize Thursday at lottery headquarters and, after state and federal tax withholdings, took home $141,501. She said they planned to use the prize money to buy a new SUV and, when the COVID-19 virus allows, take a long-awaited trip to Italy, the home of her husband’s ancestors.

“I still can’t believe it,” said Benotti. “To me, this is phenomenal. I never thought this would happen.”

The Carolina Panthers game launched in July with six top prizes of $200,000. One top prize remains to be won. Carolina Panthers fans can also enter tickets into the final second-chance drawing in the game. The drawing will award one grand prize that includes season tickets for home games in the 2021 season and membership in the Panthers’ Fifty 3 Club for 25 $500 prizes.