Ko out in front with Maguire among the chasing pack at CME Group Tour Championship

Leona Maguire remains among the chasing pack at the halfway point of the CME Group Tour Championship where a second successive 69 sees the Cavan woman seven shots adrift of leader Lydia Ko.

The 27-year-old had bogeys at the second and ninth cancelled out by birdies at the third and fourth in a mixed front nine.

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However it was the back nine where she made real inroads, closing in 33 with birdies at 11, 14 and 16 to move to six-under par and a tie for seventh place.

Ko however holds a commanding five-shot advantage over Hyo Joo Kim.

The Korean-born New Zealander hit eight birdies and a bogey on her way to a 66, the lowest score of the day after opening with a 65 on Thursday, to sit on 13-under par.