Billy Tuten, 20, of Palatka, Florida, won the Amateur Public Links Championship by defeating Brad Heninger, of San Jose, California, 6 and 5, in the final at Eagle Creek Golf Course, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tuten had previously been runner-up to Jodie Mudd in the 1981 Championship and semifinalist in the 1979 Junior Amateur Championship. Tuten is believed to be the first alternate player to win this Championship.

He was included when Christopher Young, one of the Jacksonville, Florida qualifiers withdrew because of a business commitment. After qualifying with a 142 total, Tuten reached the final by defeating Tom Cotter, of St. Paul, Minnesota, 1 up; Gary Hitch, of Ventura, California, on the 21st hole; Dennis Dolci, of Sharon, Pennsylvania, 5 and 4; Jesse Patino, of Dallas, Texas, 6 and 4; and, in the semifinals, David Nelson, of Sparks, Nevada, 4 and 3.

Heninger, who qualified with a 151 total, had an easier route to the final. He defeated Bryan Symonds, of Newburgh, Indiana, 7 and 6; Mike Davidson, of Paramount, California, 4 and 3; Andy Soley (a 1981 semifinalist), of Cedar Lake, Indiana, 2 and 1; Ken Kelly, of Waller, Texas, 3 and 2; and, in the semifinals, Steve Barnett, of Anderson, Indiana, 3 and 1.

Tony Grimes, of Scottsdale, Arizona, was medalist with a 36-hole score of 140, including a course record 68 in the second round. He was defeated in the first round by Soley, 1 up. Led by the fine play of Grimes, Pheonix, Arizona won the Warren G. Harding Trophy, emblematic of the Amateur Public Links Team Championship.

Grimes teamed with Jimmy Carter and Bill Myers for a 288 total, six strokes better than the 294 of the Los Angeles team. The USGA received 4,312 entries, short of the record 4,601 set in 1975.