Hollis Stacy, 30, became the fourth player to win three U.S. Women's Open championships when she shot 290, 2-over par, at the Salem Country Club, in Peabody, Massachusetts. Miss Stacy won previously in 1977 and 1978.

With a final round of 69, the lowest score of the championship, Miss Stacy beat Rosie Jones by one stroke and Amy Alcott by two. Miss Alcott, the 1980 Champion, and JoAnn Washam tied at 71 in the first round. After 36 holes, Miss Jones and Penny Pulz had 144 and Miss Alcott 145. Donna Horton White then moved into a tie for the 54-hole lead with Miss Alcott, at 218, with Miss Stacy three strokes behind.

A 6 on the fourth hole during the last round left Miss Stacy five strokes behind Miss Alcott and Betsy King, but Miss Stacy birdied the fifth and eighth to move within two strokes of the lead then shared by Miss Alcott, Mrs. White, and Miss Jones. Miss Stacy holed a 7-iron second shot for an eagle 2 at the 13th and a 20-foot birdie putt on the 16th to catch Miss Jones and Miss Alcott.

Miss Stacy safely parred the 17th and 18th holes, but Miss Jones bogeyed and Miss Alcott lost two strokes to par. Miss Stacy's winning score was one stroke under the 291 shot by Babe Zaharias in winning the 1954 Women's Open at Salem. Dorothy Pepper was low amateur, with a score of 302. The USGA accepted a record 558 entries.