Report: Reigning Big 12 Champion Golfer Murdered At Golf Course

Iowa State still mourns the loss of former women’s golfer Celie Barquin Arozamena. The golfer was found dead Monday morning at an Ames golf course.

The Ames Police responded to a call, and arrived to the Coldwater Golf course in Ames at 10:24 a.m. Monday. A group of golfers had noticed a golf bag, but it was strange that nobody was around it. The police officers searched the area and found a body “some distance away.” The investigation showed that Barquin Arozamena had been assaulted and killed. Collin Daniel Richards, 22, is charged with first –degree murder in the death of the golfer.

Barquin Arozamena was the 2018 Big 12 champion, and was named the Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year. She died at the age of 22.

“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 Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard noted in the statement.

The golfer was finishing her civil engineering degree. When she won her title in April, Barquin Arozamena was the second Iowa State women’s golfer to get the medalist honors at a conference tournament. She also appeared at NCAA Regional appearances four times, and was a three-time All-Big 12 selection. The golfer was one of only two golfers in school history to go this far.

This summer, Barquin Arozamena competed in the United States Women’s Open, and was the third Iowa State women’s golfer to do so.

“This is a tragic and senseless loss of a talented young woman and an acclaimed student athlete. 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, said Iowa State University President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen.

We send our thoughts and prayers to the family.