The win helped Coast pull into a four-way tie for first in the nine-team OEC with Cypress (ranked fourth in Southern California), Riverside, and Santiago Canyon.
OCC sophomore Joe Doody, one of two returners, shot even-par 72 to lead Coast while teammate Benny Santa Maria, a transfer from Santiago Canyon, shot 73.
Sejun Yoon and Scott Wyers each shot 69 for Palomar, so Coast needed a rally and received 74s from both Josh Hurst and Kord Tagley, with a 76 from freshman Ryan Knapp (Estancia High), to help in the victory.
“It goes back to a team effort,” Collins said.
Knapp ranks ninth in scoring average (74.6) in Southern California, while Santa Maria is 12th with a 75.1 average.
Collins said Doody is playing the best now and said both Doody and Tagley have improved from last year, when Coast placed sixth in the Southern California regional.
“[Doody] works hard and he doesn’t snivel and cry,” Collins said. “It’s about him against the course.”
To return to the regional, the Pirates must advance from the OEC tournament, which begins at 7 a.m. Monday at Los Serranos Country Club.
The regional is May 10 at the Southern California Golf Assn. Golf Course in Murrieta.
The state championships will be at Oak Valley Golf Course in Beaumont on May 17.
UC Irvine senior John Chin earned his third consecutive Big West Conference Golfer of the Month award.
Five of his nine rounds in April were in the 60s. He finished third of 89 golfers at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational April 2-3, including a second round score of seven-under 64.
Chin placed third of 102 competitors at the U.S. Intercollegiate April 11 through 13 and fourth of 78 players at the Western Intercollegiate April 17-18.
