Alison Lee and Nasa Hataoka share Tour Championship lead, Leona Maguire drops back

Alison Lee birdied four of her final five holes to shoot a 64 and tie Japan's Nasa Hataoka for the 36-hole lead at the CME Group Tour Championship, with Leona Maguire some nine shots adrift.

Maguire, who stands at five under, carded a 71 to add to her opening 68, making just the one birdie on 17. At five under, the Cavan competitor is currently in a tie for 33rd.

Lee collected five birdies and her only bogey of the day over her first seven holes. After six straight par saves, she began her closing run of birdies at the par-five 14th to finish 14 under.

Hataoka carded a 67 on Friday

Ruoning Yin of China, Minjee Lee of Australia and South Korea's Amy Yang of South one shot off the pace at Tiburon Golf Club in Florida.

Tied for sixth at 11 under are Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul and China's Xiyu Lin, each of whom posted a second-round 66.

Lilia Vu shot a 66 to move to eight under, part of a star-studded tie with Nelly Korda (68), Gaby Lopez of Mexico (65), Canada's Brooke Henderson (67),South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim (67), and Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (71).

Vu, who won last week at The Annika and captured two major championships, is battling France's Celine Boutier for Rolex Player of the Year honors. Boutier is back at five under.