Former Iowa State Golfer Murdered on Ames Golf Course

A call to police over an abandoned golf bag turned into a grisly discovery for Ames police Monday morning.

Police were called to the Coldwater Links golf course in Ames, across the street from Jack Trice Stadium where the Iowa State football team plays, at 10:24 Monday morning after golfers found a golf bag laying on the course. When police arrived on the scene, WHO reports they found a body "some distance away" on the Ames golf course. The body has been identified as 22-year-old Celia Barquin Arozamena, a native of Puente San Miguel, Spain.

Harley Thornton, who was golfing on the course Monday morning with three friends, said they talked to Barquin Arozamena at around 8:45. They agreed to let her go ahead of them on the course and less than 90-minutes later they found her abandoned golf bag and cell phone. Thornton called the course's clubhouse and when they told him they hadn't seen her, Thornton called 911. He told KCCI he made the 911 call at 10:10.

KCCI says Barquin Arozamena was named Iowa State's Female Athlete of the Year and was the 2018 Big 12 champion in April, only the second Iowa State female golfer to be a medalist at the conference tournament. She won the European Ladies Amateur in Slovakia in July and last month advanced to Stage II of the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. Celia had used all of her college sports eligibility at Iowa State but was still enrolled at the college, completing her civil engineering degree this semester.

22-year-old Collin D. Richards, who has no known address, has been charged with first-degree murder in Barquin Arozamena's death. According to investigators, Richards assaulted Barquin Arozamena and she died from injuries suffered in the assault. The investigation continues.

In the last three years, Richards has pleaded guilty or been convicted of first-degree harassment, domestic abuse assault, and third-degree attempted burglary, according to Iowa State Daily.

In a release from the Iowa State Sports Information Department, Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said,

Celia had an infectious smile, a bubbly personality and anyone fortunate enough to know her was blessed... Our Cyclone family mourns the tragic loss of Celia, a spectacular student-athlete and ISU ambassador.

 

Iowa State women's golf coach Christie Martens spoke of Barquin Arozamena's love of Iowa State and that she was,

an outstanding representative for our school.
We will never forget her competitive drive to be the best and her passion for life.

 

The Iowa State women's golf team has withdrawn from East & West Play in Michigan. They were to compete in the finals today but have returned to Ames, according to the Iowa State Sports Information Department.

Iowa State will honor Barquin Arozamena's memory at this Saturday morning's home football game against Akron.