Pampling posted a 14-under 128 halfway total, while American Brooks Koepka (67) lipped out a five-foot par putt at the last to slip out of a tie for the lead.
Aaron Wise, the U.S. collegiate champion who turned professional in June, ended the day in third place at 12-under after 14 holes. He was among 19 players who could not complete the round before darkness fell.
Pampling described his two early bogeys as "two silly mistakes" but remained calm in the knowledge that his swing still felt good.
"I didn't panic," the two-time PGA Tour winner told Golf Channel. "You've just got to trust yourself that you're playing well. I knew it was good so I let it come to me."
He turned his day around with a 12-foot birdie at his sixth hole, before making a 100-yard up-and-down at the next to save par.
"That just righted the ship," he said. "I played nice after that."
Koepka, meanwhile, was not quite firing on all cylinders, but he credited a hot putter with keeping him near the lead.
"I've made a bunch of putts," he said, adding that his game "was kind of sloppy at points. I've got to clean a few things up, just tighten up the driver."
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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