Amy Alcott, 24, of Santa Monica, California, won the 1980 Championship at the Richland Country Club, Nashville, Tennessee, setting the 72-hole scoring record with 280. The previous record, of 284, was set in 1979 by Jerilyn Britz.

Hollis Stacy was second, with 289, nine strokes behind Miss Alcott. Miss Alcott had rounds of 70-70-68-72. She was four under par, the fifth sub-par 72-hole score since the USGA assumed sponsorship in 1953. Temperatures reached beyond 100 degrees every day. By winning, Miss Alcott became the 22nd player to win more than one USGA Championship. She won the Girls' Junior in 1972.

The first-round co-leaders were Miss Alcott and Barbara Moxness, with rounds of 70, one under par. Seven others were two strokes back. Miss Britz, the defending champion, shot 78 and eventually missed the 36-hole cut, with a 156 total. With a second consecutive 70, for 140, Miss Alcott opened her lead to four strokes after 36 holes. Tied for second place, at 144, were Mrs. Donna Caponi Young and Penny Pulz, who both shot 72, and Mrs. Moxness, with 74.

Miss Stacy had 71 and was six strokes back, at 146, tied with Mrs. JoAnne Carner, Mrs. Nancy Lopez-Melton, and Mrs. Janet Alex. Miss Alcott increased her lead to eight strokes after the third round with a 68, three under par. Her 208 total established a new 54-hole Women's Open record, surpassing Mrs. Young's 210, set in 1970. Miss Stacy, with a 70, was alone in second place, at 216.

Sharing third place, at 217, nine strokes back, were Mrs. Lopez-Melton, who had 71, Sandra Post, with 70, and Beth Daniel, with 69. Throughout the final round, no one could mount a serious challenge. With one hole to play, Miss Alcott was 10 strokes ahead of Miss Stacy; she hit a bad tee shot on the 18th and lost a stroke to par.

Fifty-eight professionals and only two amateurs, the fewest ever, made the 36-hole cut at 153, 11 over par. Mrs. Judith Oliver was the low amateur with a 306 total. The Championship received 337 entries. A record $140,000 in prize money was awarded.