WASHINGTON – Georgetown's Barnes Blake successfully defended his title at the 125th New Jersey Amateur Championship, presented by Provident Bank, earning a wire-to-wire victory on Wednesday at Baltusrol Golf Club.

Blake opened the tournament with a 6-under-par 66 and maintained the lead throughout all 72 holes, becoming just the 14th player since the championship adopted stroke play in 1971 to lead from start to finish. He also became the first golfer to win back-to-back New Jersey Amateur titles since Michael Stamberger accomplished the feat in 2013 and 2014.

Blake capped the championship with a 5-under-par 67 in the final round, recording seven birdies to finish at 12-under par for the tournament. He posted four consecutive under-par rounds and birdied all four par-5 holes on Baltusrol's Upper Course during the final round.

With the victory, Blake secured an exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be held Aug. 10-16 at Merion Golf Club, where he will compete against the nation's top amateur golfers.

"It was so special to defend at my home course this week. I had so much support from friends and family, as well as the membership at Baltusrol. I felt like I played four really solid rounds of golf despite the weather the first two days. I couldn't be more excited to be going back to the U.S. Amateur at Merion this year. " - Barnes Blake