In Gee Chun is LPGA Rookie of the Year

In Gee Chun has clinched the 2016 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award with six events remaining in the season.

Chun holds a 778-point lead over Megan Khang, with the latter and third-place Gaby Lopez expected to compete in five of the remaining six events -- thus mathematically eliminating them from the race.

"I feel very honored to have won the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year," the 22-year-old Chun said in a statement. "To play on the LPGA with all the top players in the world has been a dream of mine that I have been working toward, and in 2016 it came true.

"I was aware of the Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year award, and players that have won this award have gone on to be LPGA and World Golf Halls of Famers, such as Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb and of course Se Ri Pak, so to have my name alongside those players is a thrill for me."

Chun, from South Korea, set a major championship record following her four-day total of 21-under-par to win the season's final major, The Evian Championship. The victory was the second of her career after claiming the 2015 U.S. Women's Open as a non-member.

"One of my goals at the start of the year was to try and win this award, so to actually achieve it is a tremendous honor," Chun said. "Thank you to Louise Suggs, and all the LPGA Founding members, without you all, we would not have the opportunities we have today. I am sorry I wasn't able to meet Ms. Suggs. However, I will do my best to uphold the honor bestowed upon me."

Chun, who is No. 3 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, has nine top-10 finishes and is second in scoring average (69.52).