Sports
6 years ago

European golf champion murdered on US course

Published :

Updated :

A man has been charged with murder, hours after prominent Spanish golfer Celia Barquín Arozamena was found dead on an Iowa golf course.

Barquín, 22, won the European Ladies' Amateur championship in July and was a leading student athlete at Iowa State University.

Golfers at the Coldwater Golf Links in Ames discovered an unattended golf bag on the course early on Monday, reports BBC.

Barquín was found dead by police a short distance away.

Police in the Iowa city of Ames said they had determined that Barquín died following an assault.

Collin Daniel Richards, also 22, has been charged with her murder, police say. He has no known address, according to their statement.

Originally from Puente San Miguel in Spain, Barquín was finishing her degree in civil engineering this semester, the university said.

"We are all devastated," said the head women's golf coach, Christie Martens. "Celia was a beautiful person who was loved by all her team-mates and friends."

In a video profile of the young golfer published in April, Barquín spoke about how Ms Martens had been "like my second mom, always taking care of me".

Share this news