Maguire in the hunt at the Chevron Championship

Leona Maguire has positioned herself to attack going into the third round of the Chevron Championship, the first women's major of the year.

The Irishwoman has quietly moved into the top 20 after a second round of 69, leaving her six shots off leader Hinako Shibuno.

Maguire completed a bogey-free round at Rancho Mirage in California and birdies on the 5th, 8th and 11th leaves her well positioned going into the weekend.

Stephanie Meadow ensured her involvement in the tournament will continue after she made the cut. Her round of 72 was just enough to ensure she was the right side of the cut line, finishing the second round on +1 with the cut at +2.

At the other end of the leaderboard, Shibuno, nearly three years removed from her lone LPGA major championship, is in position to add another.

The 23-year-old Japanese player shot a six-under-par 66 in the second round, leaving her at nine under, good for a one-shot lead.

First-round co-leader Jennifer Kupcho shot 70 on Friday and she is tied for second with Annie Park (second-round 67) and defending champion Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand (69) at eight under.

Two South Korean golfers, Sei Young Kim and Hyo Joo Kim, each shot 67, leaving them tied for fifth at seven under.

Shibuno won the 2019 Women's British Open in her major-tournament debut, but she has made the cut in just half of her eight subsequent majors. A tie for fourth at the 2020 US Women's Open was the only time since her win that since finished in the top 30 at a major.

"My game, golf game is not a lot different than I won 2019 British Open, but my personality is not different at all," Shibuno said, adding with a laugh. "I eat a lot more snacks."

Her round included seven birdies and one bogey, but after taking the lead, she