Mega Millions: Only 2 of 29 California winners have come forward

California lottery offices opened for business Monday at 8 a.m., but by midday only two of the 29 people who hit five of six Mega Millions numbers had come forward to collect their $227,955 prize.

Officials identified William Monroe, of Rancho Murieta, as the first man to come forward, just before 9 a.m. His age was not released.

Monroe matched all five numbers, but missed the Mega number. According to a lottery news release, he said he and his wife plan to use their winnings to fix up their house, pay bills and give to their church and three kids.

"We double- and triple-checked the ticket," Monroe said in the release.   

Robert Peeler, 65, of Sacramento also turned in his ticket Monday, officials said.

No Los Angeles residents have claimed their prize yet, but lottery spokesman Alex Traverso said he expects more winners to turn in their tickets Monday afternoon and just prior to closing time. 

"You see people that come in first thing, and then you see people who are surprisingly practical," he said. "They come in on their lunch break. You'd think if you win $227,000, you could take a day off."

The Mega Millions frenzy overshadowed a $17-million prize handed out Saturday night. Traverso said that SuperLotto Plus jackpot winner was out of Bakersfield.

The three big Mega Millions jackpot-winning tickets -- splitting a prize of $656 million -- were purchased in Red Bud, Ill.; Baltimore County, Md.; and Kansas, where state lottery officials have said only that the ticket was sold in the northeast part of the state.

Lottery officials told The Times on Saturday that Californians bought more than $300 million worth of lottery tickets in the run-up to Friday night's Mega Millions drawing, including $78 million on Friday.

Here is where the winning California tickets were sold:

Hollywood Bazaar: 6701 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

Raley’s #447:4650 Natomas Blvd., Sacramento

Rapid Gas #081: 811 E. Washington Blvd., Venice

Save Mart #386: 1172 N. Main St., Manteca

Liquor Tobacco & More: 1283 S. Mary Ave., Sunnyvale

Al’s Food & Liquor: 36 Medway Road, San Rafael

SC Mini Mart: 2135 N. San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles

7-Eleven 2174-13797: 2145 E. Ball Road, Anaheim

Grandview Liquor: 12203 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles

News Plus Montebello: 1728 Montebello Town Center, Montebello

7-Eleven 2367-25561: 617 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose

K & J Liquor and Jr. Market: 938 E. South St., Long Beach

Fillco: 1011 Imperial Ave., Calexico

Scripps ARCO: 12033 Scripps Summit Dr., San Diego

Bluebird Liquor: 13746 S. Hawthorne Blvd., Hawthorne

7-Eleven 2136-18920B: 7407 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys

USA Donuts and Croissants: 11230 Garvey Ave. Ste. A, El Monte

Four Guy’s Liquor: 1203 E. Main St., Santa Paula

Fast & Easy Mart #14: 34759 Ardenwood Blvd., Fremont

Chevron #2211: 215 Placerville, Folsom

Canyon Liquor: 16507 Soledad Canyon Rd. #H, Canyon Country

Haigs Liquor: 1230  W. Francisquito Ave., West Covina

Jack’s Liquor: 910 Oakdale Rd., Modesto

First and Ivy Market: 2170 First Ave., San Diego

Rancho Murieta County Store: 7175 Murieta Drive, Sloughhouse

Stockdale West Texaco: 13004 Stockdale Hwy., Bakersfield

EZ Foodmart: 2106 Taft Hwy., Bakersfield

Fox Liquors: 570 Larkin St., San Francisco

Clinton Keith Chevron: 23805 Clinton Keith Rd., Wildomar

RELATED:

Mega Millions: 29 tickets worth $227,955 each sold in California

Mega Millions: Joy, disappointment after record jackpot drawing

Mega Millions: No California jackpot winners, but 29 had 5 of 6 numbers

-- Matt Stevens

Photo: A man makes his lottery picks. Credit: Stan Honda / AFP/Getty Images