The holidays arrived a few weeks ahead of time for one Suffolk County resident Monday after he claimed a $3 million prize from a New York Lottery scratch-off ticket.

Kurt Kelleher, of Shirley, claimed the top prize on the Bonus Bucks scratch-off game, the New York Lottery said.

He opted to receive the prize in 20 annual payments of $97,653 each after required withholdings, the lottery website said.

The winning ticket was purchased at King Kullen on William Floyd Parkway in Shirley.

Two additional $3 million top prizes remain to be claimed on the Bonus Bucks game, the lottery said. Players can check the status of any New York Lottery scratch-off game by downloading the Game Report at nylottery.ny.gov . By Maureen Mullarkey maureen.mullarkey@newsday.com

Maureen Mullarkey is a brea

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