Michael Podolak

An insurance agent with a sterling amateur golf career, Podolak qualified to play in the Allianz Championship in February. . Podolak earned his spot in that tournament by qualifying for an exemption offered to the more than 100,000 insurance agents that offer Allianz products. He declared himself a professional prior to the Championship, which was the second time he had turned professional in his career, the other coming in 1977, when he competed in area pro-ams for three years before being reinstated as an amateur. . .Podolak met the agent qualification standards for the Allianz Championship by satisfying three criteria: the agent must be over 50 years old, must have a scratch handicap or better and must shoot a one-round score of 1-under par or better at The Old Course at Broken Sound. Podolak posted a 1-under-par 71 when he played The Old Course at Broken Sound in Dec. 2009. In playing the 2010 Allianz Championship shot 75-71-73 and finished T-66. Podolak has won 21 individual state amateur golf titles in North Dakota and won the 1984 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship for the 25-and-older age bracket. Competed on the 1985 Walker Cup team and the 1986 Masters . . .Was the No. 1 alternate, but missed earning a spot in the 1977 PGA Tour Qualifying School . . .Serves as an assistant girls’ golf coach at Kindred (N.D.) High School, which his two daughters attend.. .Is a second cousin to former Kansas City Chiefs and University of Iowa star football player, Ed Podolak. . .Captured the 2000 Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship. . .Won the 2004 North Dakota Open. . .Competed in 11 U.S. Amateur Championships, competing in the final 16 of match play in 1985 and 1989. . .Opened his own insurance agency, Podolak and Associates, in 1982 in Fargo, N.D.