GOLF

Sergio Garcia dedicates round to Celia Barquin Arozamena, slain Iowa State golfer

Associated Press

VILAMOURA, Portugal — Spanish golfing star Sergio Garcia dedicated his round Thursday to Iowa State student Celia Barquin Arozamena, a native of Spain found slain Monday in Ames, Iowa.

Barquin Arozamena, the Big 12 Conference's 2018 women's golf champion and Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year, made childhood connections with Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion.

Former Iowa State golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena

Garcia shot a 5-under 66 on Thursday during the Portugal Masters, leaving him three strokes behind leader Lucas Herbert of France at Pedro Victoria Golf Course.

"It was nice to shoot a nice score and dedicate it to Celia," said Garcia, who had tweeted about her death Tuesday.

A photo of Barquin Arozamena as a child with Garcia was among her most prized possessions.

Garcia is preparing for the Ryder Cup next week against the United States.

"The goal was to come here and do as well as I can, to get the competition juices going," he said.

More:Complete coverage of former Iowa State golfer Celia Barquin Arozamena's slaying

Garcia's tribute to Barquin Arozamena wasn't the only international nod to the Puente San Miguel native.

The Ladies European Tour honored Barquin Arozamena at its weekly tournament Thursday — the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open in Spain — with a minute of silence surrounding a green at the Terramar Golf course in Sitges, located southwest of Barcelona.

Tour players, spectators and other officials were present for the ceremony.

Barquin Arozamena's body was found in a pond near hole 9 at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames, Iowa, on Monday morning, police have said.

Collin Daniel Richards is charged with first-degree murder in her stabbing death. He made his initial appearance at the Story County Courthouse in Nevada on Tuesday. He remains in jail on a $5 million cash bond.

At Tuesday's court appearance, Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said authorities believe Richards to be homeless and said the crime is believed to be "a random act of violence."

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Wednesday night in Ames, hundreds gathered in front of the towering campanile on the Iowa State campus to mourn the loss of Barquin Arozamena, a civil engineering student.

Speakers described the many ways Barquin Arozamena had touched their lives — and the state she called her second home.

Among those present was Carlos Negrin Bolanos, Barquin Arozamena's boyfriend and a fellow Spaniard.

“Words cannot describe how much I loved her for a very, very long time,” said Negrin Bolanos, a yellow flower pinned to the lapel of his suit.

People attending the vigil also wore yellow ribbons, which was Barquin Arozamena's favorite color.

This week, Iowa State quarterback Kyle Kempt tweeted out a request for fans attending the Cyclones' football game Saturday to wear yellow in honor of late Iowa State golfer.

Prior to her death, Iowa State had planned already to honor Barquin Arozamena during Saturday's game for winning the school’s 2018 Iowa State Female Athlete of the Year.

Wednesday, the Iowa State athletic department also announced other ways she will be remembered Saturday during the game against Akron.

  • Both the Iowa State and Akron football teams will be wearing a “CBA” helmet sticker.
  • The Iowa State football varsity marching band will form the letters “CBA” as it prepares to play the national anthem.
  • A video tribute and moment of silence for Barquin Arozamena will occur right before the playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
  • Both football teams will be on the field in the north end zone for the video tribute and national anthem.

The pre-game ceremony will begin around 10:50 a.m.

“We are asking Cyclone fans to enter the stadium earlier than normal and embrace Celia’s teammates, coaches and friends,” Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard said in a statement released by the school Wednesday. “We are hopeful these recognitions pay tribute to one of our most accomplished student-athletes and serve as a springboard for our community to start healing.”