Lydia Ko finishes with two birdies to move into second in LPGA finale

Lydia Ko moved into second place in the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida to improve her chances of ending the LPGA season on top of the world.

Ko led the Race to the CME Globe standings by 500 points going into this week's event, and she moved a further two shots clear of nearest rival Inbee Park in Friday's second round at the Tiburon course in Naples.

The New Zealand teenager put herself in position to lead at the halfway stage, but a double bogey at the 15th and a further dropped shot at 16 gave Korea's Ha Na Jang top spot.

Ko rallied by picking up birdies at the last two holes, but the damage had been done in the previous two holes, leaving Jang two strokes clear with 36 holes remaining.

LPGA rookie Jang produced Friday's round of the day, a seven-under 65, to reach 10 under overall as she looks for a first title after three runner-up finishes.

America's Cristie Kerr and Jennifer Song are in a tie for third place on seven under after matching rounds of 69, one shot ahead of France's Karine Icher (67) and US Solheim Cup team-mates Gerina Piller and Brittany Lincicome, who both shot 70.

Park needs to finish in the top 12 to have any chance of catching Ko at the top of the standings, but with the youngster performing well in the season finale she goes into the weekend most likely needing to win the tournament.

A second-round 69 moved the former world No 1 into a tie for 13th, but she is six shots off the lead and four behind Ko with 36 holes left in the season.

Ko and Park are battling for a host of prizes this week, including the world No 1 spot, the Race to the CME Globe, the LPGA money list and Player of the Year honours.

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