Can she keep it in the family?

– Moriya Jutanugarn (above) on Saturday grabbed a one-shot lead heading into the final round of the Evian Championship, as she looks to emulate her sister Ariya in becoming a Thai Major winner.

After a second-round 68 at the weather-shortened Evian, she is in pole position to become her country’s second Major winner.

Ariya, 21, won the women’s British Open last year.

The 23-year-old Moriya followed her opening 65 with a five-birdie round to stand on nine under par overall.

With stormy weather having washed out Thursday’s play, the tournament has been reduced to 54 holes and she will go into the final round one stroke clear of Japan’s Ayako Uehara.

Uehara, a three-time winner in Japan, fired a 66 for eight-under with Australian Katherine Kirk, runner-up in the 2010 Women’s British Open, in third on seven-under after a 69.

Moriya was the 2013 Rookie of the Year, but has never won on the LPGA Tour.

This season, she has had a string of decent finishes, including eight top-10s, and was in the final pairing at last month’s British Open at Kingsbarns in Scotland.

On that occasion, she slipped back to finish tied 16th.

This time, she is hoping she can hold onto the lead and finally claim her first professional title.

“When Ariya won the British Open at Woburn last year, I finished not long before her and dashed out to watch her play the last few holes,” she recalled. “It was very stressful and I was nervous and excited.

“I was very happy for her. I don’t think it is quite so stressful when you are the one playing.” – AFP