Visacki and Haygood Share Lead at 80th Florida Open

Former UCF Knights Michael Visacki and Chase Haygood sit atop the leaderboard after the second round of the 80th Florida Open at Longboat Key Club. Visacki closed with three birdies in his final six holes to post a 68 on the Harbourside Course, while Haygood recovered from a sluggish start to card a 70 on the Links Course. The pair are tied at 7‑under 136, holding a two‑shot cushion over defending champion Chase Seiffert, former NCAA champion Matt Hill and local favorite Tyler Gulliksen. The final round on July 19 will be played on the Harbourside layout, where a professional winner will walk away with $20,000 from a $125,000 purse.

Moses Compaan’s Remarkable Comeback

Jacksonville’s Moses Compaan stunned the field by erasing a quadruple‑bogey 8 on the par‑3 third hole during the first round. Despite that costly mistake, he managed a 74 and later posted a 67 to finish at 2‑under 141, securing a tie for 13th place—the best showing for a First Coast competitor. Compaan capitalized on a bogey at hole 13 on the Harbourside Course, stringing together birdies at 15, 16, 18, 1, 3 and 8 to turn his round around. His resilience highlights the unpredictable nature of the tournament and keeps local fans hopeful for more strong performances.

Other Contenders to Watch

Former UNF player Kevin Aylwin sits tied for 17th at 1‑under after a solid 72 on the Links Course, while Bolles graduate and ex‑Florida Gator A.J. Crouch is tied for 19th at even‑par following a 72 on Harbourside. Andrew McLauchlan of Neptune Beach carded a 75 on the Links, placing him among the top 24 at 1‑over alongside defending champion J.C. Deacon, the University of Florida’s head coach, who posted a 72 on Harbourside. Further back, Andrew Riley (75 Links) and Emmet Kuhlenkamp (72 Links) share 35th spot at 2‑over.

Visacki’s pedigree adds extra intrigue to the battle for the top spot. He boasts more than 50 mini‑tour victories and holds the all‑time money lead on the West Florida Tour, thanks in part to his dramatic 20‑foot birdie putt that earned him a rare PGA Tour start at the 2021 Valspar Championship—his only appearance to date. Meanwhile, Haygood brings a scoring‑average legacy from UCF, having finished second in that metric as a senior in 2025‑26 and capturing the SeaBest Invitational earlier this year at Atlantic Beach Country Club.

What the Prize Means for the Field

The $125,000 purse at the 80th Florida Open offers a meaningful payday for professionals, with the winner walking away with $20,000—a figure that can significantly boost a player’s season earnings, especially on the Korn Ferry Tour circuit where many of the competitors compete part‑time. For Visacki, who has logged ten Korn Ferry starts and recently missed the cut at the LECOM Suncoast Open, a strong finish could reinvigorate his campaign and remind tour organizers of his talent. Haygood, still building his résumé after college, sees this event as a platform to attract deeper sponsorship opportunities and potentially secure further tour invitations.

As the final round looms, the spotlight remains on the Knights duo, Moses Compaan’s late surge, and the array of local talents hoping to make their mark. Whether it’s a historic comeback, a breakthrough performance, or simply another showcase of Florida’s deep golf talent, the 80th Florida Open promises compelling drama through to the weekend’s conclusion.