A bad day at work turned around quickly for Linda Boykin of Clinton when she won the first $200,000 top prize in a new lottery game.

“I decided to stop for some scratch-offs after a terrible day at work,” she recalled. “It always lifts my spirits when I play.”

Boykin bought her lucky $5 Prize Link Multiplier ticket from Bonnetsville Kwik Stop on Roseboro Highway in Clinton.

“I like playing the new games when they come out,” Boykin said.

She couldn’t believe it when she saw that she won the first top prize in the game.

“I had to pinch myself,” she laughed. “I didn’t think it was real.”

Boykin arrived at lottery headquarters Friday to claim her prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $143,501.

She plans to use her winnings to pay some bills and plan for her retirement.

The Prize Link Multiplier game debuted this month with five $200,000 top prizes. Four $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed.

For details on how $5 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Sampson County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.