'There was a lot of shock;' Hoke County newlyweds win big on $10 lottery ticket

James Zurcher Jr. and Jamie Gabijan-Zurcher, of Raeford, won $750,000 Thursday on a $10 Jumbo Bucks ticket, the North Carolina Education lottery announced Friday.

James Zurcher was on his way to visit his mother when he stopped at the Sundo Kwik Stop on N.C. Highway 72 in Lumberton to buy lottery tickets. Ironically, the station was sold out of his favorite $2 game.

“I like the Jr. Big Ol’ Bucks,” he said. “But they didn’t have it. So I tried the Jumbo.”

When he got home, scratched off the ticket and learned of his good luck, Zurcher said there was a lot of shock.

“We’re still trying to wrap our heads around the amount," he said.

The couple's after-tax winnings of $519,378 will allow them to pay off their mortgage, save for the future, share with their parents and buy new cars. They were married in July.

Zurcher's wife has her eye on a new SUV, and he said he'd finally get the black and yellow Pittsburgh Steelers-themed Dodge Charger he's always wanted.

“As older newlyweds, we thought we’d be 80 years old by the time we paid off the mortgage,” Jamie said. “This will help us enjoy growing old together.”