Jane Geddes, 26, shot a one-under-par 71 to defeat Sally Little by two strokes in an 18-hole playoff at NCR Country Club in Dayton, Ohio. Geddes and Little completed 72 holes at one-under-par 287. It was Geddes' first professional victory. Beth Daniel led by one stroke after a first-round 70.

Amy Benz, Silvia Bertolaccini and amateur Michele Redman were at 71. Play was delayed for one hour and 23 minutes during the first round due to rain. Judy Dickinson and Betsy King had 36-hole totals of 72-71—143 and shared the lead after the second round, which twice was interrupted by rain. Amy Alcott shot a second round 69 for even-par 144, one stroke behind the leaders.

A record 79 players within 10 strokes of Dickinson and King made the 36-hole cut at 153. The third round was delayed for two hours and 17 minutes due to more rain. King's 70 placed her at three-under par 213, one ahead of Okamoto, who recorded her second consecutive 69. Geddes began her final round at two over par and, after 11 straight pars, began her move with birdies on the 12th and 14th. That put her at even par, tied for second with Little and two strokes behind King.

Little birdied the 15th to pull to within one stroke of King, who lost the lead for good on the 14th when she put her approach shot into the greenside bunker, played a poor pitch from there, and three putted for double-bogey 6. Little led at one under par with Geddes and King at even par. Geddes birdied the 17th to gain a share of the lead for the first time. She finished her bogey-free fourth round with another par for 74-74-70-69—287.

Little finished with rounds of 73-72-72-72—287. King and Okamoto tied for third, one stroke off the lead. In the playoff, Geddes birdied the second hole to take a brief lead that she relinquished by bogeying the fourth. Little then birdied the fifth, sixth and seventh holes to take a three-stroke lead. Geddes picked up two strokes on the eighth by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt while Little was settling for bogey.

Little bunkered her approach shot on the ninth and, after taking two to get out of the sand, took a double-bogey 6. Geddes' par gave her a one-stroke lead. Little recovered on the 10th with a birdie that brought her even. Geddes took the lead for good with a birdie on 14 and stretched it to two strokes when Little bogeyed the 15th. Geddes held that margin the rest of the way to win the championship. Geddes earned $50,000 for the win.

Joan Pitcock of Fresno, California, finished at 294, tying the record for low score by amateur. The USGA accepted a record 704 entries for the championship.