A former college golf star at Iowa State University was found dead on Monday at a nearby golf course in Ames, Iowa. Police said that 22-year-old Celia Barquin Arozamena was fatally assaulted by Collin Daniel Richards. He was arrested and charged on Monday night.
“At approximately 10:24 a.m., officers were called to Coldwater Golf Course located at 1400 South Grand Ave in reference to a suspicious circumstance,” the Ames Police Department said in a statement. “Golfers had located a golf bag with no one around it on the course. Officers responded and subsequently located a body some distance away.”
***Update*** Ames Police charge Collin Daniel Richards, age 22 with 1st Degree Murder. Please keep the victim and her family in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/XmpSx9X0m0
— Ames Police (@AmesPolice) September 18, 2018
Barquin Arozamena completed her collegiate eligibility in June, but was still studying at Iowa State to complete her civil engineering degree this semester.
On the course, Barquin Arozamena was one of the game’s top rising stars. The Puente San Miguel, Spain native won the Big 12 individual title and was named Iowa State’s Female Athlete of the Year. She also won the Ladies European Amateur Championship and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open this summer. She had recently advanced to the LPGA Tour’s second stage of Qualifying School.
“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.” – ISU Athletics Director Jamie Pollard
?https://t.co/NmFiYlvvOV pic.twitter.com/qHVaqFE2jS
— Iowa State WGolf (@CycloneWGOLF) September 18, 2018
“Celia had an infectious smile, a bubbly personality and anyone fortunate enough to know her was blessed,” Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said. “Our Cyclone family mourns the tragic loss of Celia, a spectacular student-athlete and ISU ambassador.”
“This is a tragic and senseless loss of a talented young woman and an acclaimed student-athlete,” Iowa State University President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen said. “We mourn with her family and friends in Spain, her teammates here and all who knew her. On behalf of the entire Cyclone family, I extend our deep condolences to Celia’s family and her many friends and teammates at Iowa State. We are deeply saddened.”
We are all devastated,” Iowa State head women’s golf coach Christie Martens said. “Celia was a beautiful person who was loved by all her teammates and friends. She loved Iowa State and was an outstanding representative for our school. We will never forget her competitive drive to be the best and her passion for life.”
