By Jonathan Hampton 
One “Wheel of Fortune” contestant came dangerously close to walking away from the Bonus Round empty-handed — until a last-second guess turned everything around.
Pat Ralph, a contestant from Westfield, New Jersey, had the audience and viewers at home holding their breath during Thursday night’s episode, as he teetered on the edge of losing a whopping $60,000 prize. Ralph, who is currently preparing for his wedding, told host Ryan Seacrest that every dollar counted — especially as he and his fiancée plan their big day.
Going into the game, Ralph had strong momentum. He nailed the first two toss-up puzzles right out of the gate, racking up $3,000 in no time. His competitors — Kelly Rushford of Buffalo, New York, and Stefani Adams of Chicago, Illinois — tried to keep up, but the night was filled with ups and downs for all three.
Rushford, a fan who watches the show in Canada before the U.S. broadcast, managed to solve the first puzzle with only two blanks remaining, securing an early lead. Adams, who joked that being on “Wheel of Fortune” was on her personal bingo card, briefly took the lead herself after solving the “Winning a Flying Car” puzzle and snagging a trip to Hawaii, along with the Wild Card.
