With a closing round of two under 69, Chun overtook the all-time scoring record of 20-under-par set by Jason Day at the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, which was equalled by Henrik Stenson at The Open Championship at Royal Troon back in July.

Her record 21-under-par 263 for 72 holes at the Evian Resort Golf Club also saw her cruise to a four-stroke win in the year’s final LPGA major championship. Chun defeated fellow South Koreans Ryu So Yeon (66) and Park Sun Hyun (69), to claim her second major title following the 2015 US Women’s Open. She has previously earned nine Korean LPGA victories and two on the LPGA of Japan Tour.

“I just cannot believe I won the Evian Championship. I made 21-under-par. I’m not dreaming, right?” the 22-year-old said.

“I had a really great time this week. Most people say golf is an individual sport, but I believe it is a team sport. My manager, my caddie, my coach and I as a team, prepared for this game and played this game. I love my team.”

With rounds of 63, 66, 65 and 69, Chun went wire-to-wire to earn the trophy along with a winner’s cheque of US$487,500.

FINAL LEADERBOARD  | VIDEO: FINAL ROUND HIGHLIGHTS

Starting the final round in heavy rain, Chun had a four-stroke advantage over Park and stretched that to six shots after birdies on the par-4 3rd and par-3 8th holes. After reaching the turn in 33 and with a five-stroke cushion, Chun made four consecutive pars before dropping a shot on the short par-3 14th. However, she bounced straight back with a birdie at the next hole.

Three pars to finish were enough to establish a new majors record, but it wasn’t easy. Chun hooked her tee shot left off the 18th tee into thick rough and after taking a wood out of the bag her caddie, David Jones, persuaded her to lay up short of the water fronting the green. She did, and then hit her third shot from 95 yards to less than two metres from the flag and rolled in the par-saving putt to take the tournament and the record.

In Gee Chun plays her tee shot on the 16th hole during the final round. PHOTO: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

China’s Olympic bronze medallist Shanshan Feng (69) finished outright fourth at 15 under, with another South Korean Sei Young Kim catapulting into fifth place on the back of a closing six under 65, which included six birdies and an eagle in the worst of the wet final round conditions.

The recent crowned Women’s British Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn, from Thailand, tied for ninth, which enabled 2015 Evian Championship winner and World No.1 Lydia Ko to claim the Rolex Annika Major Award as the most consistent performer across the five women’s majors in 2016. Ko closed out her campaign in France with a two over 73 to share 43rd position.

Queensland’s Sarah Jane Smith bounced back from a disappointing four over 75 in the third round to close out with a 70, which saw her climb into the tie for 30th position and finish the best of the Australian contingent. Victorian Su Oh (75) finished six over and tied for 61st, while West Australian Minjee Lee (77) had a share of 67th place at nine over.