How my quads beat a straight flush for the high hand jackpot

[m bozeman]

O.K., so last night I was out on the SunCruz Casino out of Port Canaveral, Fl, playing some $5-$10 holdem. There was a $1,000 high hand jackpot for the room, which paid $500 for first, $300 for second, $100 for third, and $100 for the high Omaha hand. Ten hands into the night, I hit quad kings, with an ace kicker. I had to wait out almost 4 hours to see if it held up. About an hour later, some guy hit a straight flush to the queen. Damnit! Well, I still got second. One hour later, some guy hit quad aces with a jack kicker. NOOO! Now I'm down to third. Then comes this hand.

The player across from me has A5 clubs. The flop is K 2 3, with the 2 and 3 of clubs. The turn is the 4 clubs. He hit his straight flush. So much for my high hand! Then comes the unthinkable. The river is the 6 clubs. He turns his hand over at the showdown, and I congratulate him on his straight flush. The dealer then points out that he has a straight flush to the six. That means that he only plays his 5 clubs. Well, to qualify for the high hand, you have to play both cards out of your hand! He had it on the turn, but the river actually improved his straight flush, but lost his high hand! Is that not terrible, or what? Not for me, of course, as my quad kings held up for a measly $100 payout. What a bizarre situation!