Leona Maguire well in touch at the halfway mark at The Ascendant LPGA

Leona Maguire is five shots off the lead after the second round of the The Ascendant LPGA in Texas.

The Cavan competitor shot a 67 to stand on five under after hitting six birdies at the Old American Golf Club, just outside Dallas. A bogey on the par-five sixth was the only blemish, with Maguire currently in a share of fifth at the halfway mark alongside Maria Torres, Azahara Munoz and Marina Alex.

Hyo Joo Kim protected her lead with a three-under 68 to leave her on ten under, two shots clear of Paraguay's Sofia Garcia, who also carded a 68.

Lexi Thompson jumped into a tie for third at six under with France's Celine Boutier. Thompson shot the low round of the day, a 65, while Boutier signed for a 67.

Among those missing the cut of two over were tour winners Alexa Pano, England's Bronte Law and South Africa's Paula Reto.

Additional reporting: Reuters

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